best books for a 7th grade book report

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The Best Book-Report Books for Middle Schoolers

No need to dread a book report! When kids find titles that are engaging, interesting, and thought-provoking, they're hooked. If it's fiction, students can dissect plot, theme, and characters. If it's nonfiction, they can plunge into a subject that fascinates them or learn a lot about something they've never heard of before. Here's a list of surefire selections for students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. For even more ideas, check out 50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12 .

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Inspiring wartime journal reveals teen's inner life.

The Apothecary, Book 1

Cold War kids use magic to save world in brilliant novel.

Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story)

Young refugee's story is told in memories, myths, fables.

Goodbye Stranger

Bittersweet, lovely story of friendship and social media.

Genesis Begins Again

Teen learns to love herself in uplifting tale of misfits.

Hold on tight for an intense tale of survival.

A Long Walk to Water

Touching take on Lost Boys of Sudan, based on true story.

One Crazy Summer

A gem, with strong girl characters, '60s black history.

Poverty, being unhoused explored in hopeful tale.

The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights

Little-known disaster gets overdue, in-depth treatment.

The Red Badge of Courage

Compelling Civil War novel questions morality of battle.

Uglies: Uglies Quartet, Book 1

Thoughtful sci-fi about the price of beauty.

Interned girl, Native boy find common ground in moving tale.

All-American Muslim Girl

Captivating coming-of-age tale explores identity, racism.

American Ace

Moving, fast-paced novel-in-verse; great for teen boys.

Bomb: The Race to Build -- and Steal -- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Complex, suspenseful story of developing The Bomb.

The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club

Thrilling true story of teenagers who stood up to the Nazis.

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings

Poignant memoir-in-verse recalls Cuban American's childhood.

Long Way Down

Gripping, unnerving story of teen boy contemplating revenge.

My Name Is Not Easy

Fascinating story of Alaskan kids growing up in the 1960s.

Other great lists from our editors

• Coming-of-Age Books
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• How to Raise a Reader
• Help Your Kids Find Books with Diverse Characters
• How Comics Helped My Kid Love Reading

Differentiated Teaching

Must-Read 7th Grade Books: A Book List for Teachers & Homeschoolers

Finding 7th grade books can feel overwhelming. That's because seventh grade is a pivotal year for students. They are no longer kids, but they are not quite teenagers yet. They're trying to figure out who they are and what they want to be. They are also working hard in school and starting to think about their future.

While we all know there are many benefits to reading literature , this period is time is especially critical for helping students problem solve and develop a sense of self. This is why it is important to give them a reading list that will challenge and engage them in critical thinking. To help, I've put together a list of 20 of the best books for 7th graders so you can quickly and easily create a booklist for the school year.

Whether you're a middle school teacher or homeschooling your seventh grader, I'm sure you'll find a good book on this list that will capture your reader's attention. These 7th grade books cover so many important themes and genres there's something for everyone!

What you'll find on this page:

The Best Books for Your 7th Grade Readers

If you're creating book lists for your readers this year, you'll likely want to include a mix of classic books, historical fiction novels, Newbery honor books, and more. Here are some of my top picks for the best books for seventh-grade readers:

1. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me is a complex puzzle that plays with time and space. The story centers around Miranda, a 12-year-old living in New York City in the late 1970s. Her mother is trying to get on the $20,000 Pyramid, her best friend has been beaten up by a bully, and some weird things are happening to Miranda—anonymous notes are coming in from the future telling her not to trust someone. It’s hard to give you much more than that without giving away spoilers—but it’s one of those books that you won’t be able to put down until you’ve finished it.

Details about When You Reach Me :

• Genre: Science Fiction
• Buy the Novel Unit: When You Reach Me Novel Study

2. Death by Toilet Paper by Donna Gephart

When it comes to 7th grade books, this one will make kids laugh out loud. This comedy is about a boy who is not gifted and talented at school, but has somehow ended up in middle school for the “gifted and talented.” In fact, he's so bad at school that his mom takes him to a psychiatrist because she thinks something must be wrong with him. In order to get out of school, he starts a rumor that there are poisonous black widow spiders living in the toilet paper dispensers. Needless to say, this doesn't go over well with any of the teachers or parents. With hilarious consequences, the plot revolves around how the main character deals with this problem…and eventually gets out of it. (Spoiler alert: it ends happily.)

For students who loved books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants in their younger years, Death by Toilet Paper will not disappoint!

Details about Death by Toilet Paper :

• Genre: Realistic Fiction/Humor
• Buy the Novel Unit: Death by Toilet Paper Novel Study

3. Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank

A powerful and harrowing story, Diary of Anne Frank is a must-read for all students as it gives a firsthand account of the fear and hardship faced by the Jewish people in Nazi Germany. The diary entries span from June 12, 1942 to August 1944. In them, Anne (aged 13 at the time) documents her life while in hiding from the Nazi regime during World War II.

Through her writing, Anne shares her hopes and dreams, as well as her fears and frustrations.

The diary ends abruptly when the family is discovered and Anne is sent to a concentration camp. However, students will be moved by her story and inspired by her strength in the face of adversity.

4. Posted by John David Anderson

After cell phones are banned from Branton Middle School, the students start using notes to communicate. Eighth-grader, Parker, starts passing sticky notes to a girl he likes. eighth-grader Margot begins receiving threatening notes from someone who knows all her secrets. Seventh-grader Simon gets drafted into being the middleman for the entire school.

Both heartwarming and lesson-packed, this book is an easier read that offers many great opportunities to discuss the impact of our words on others.

5. Ungifted by Gordon Korman

The main character in Ungifted is a middle schooler named Donovan Curtis. He’s not exactly a bad kid, but he’s not the best student either—which is why he ends up in the gifted and talented program at his school. The only problem is that Donovan isn’t gifted or talented… he just ended up in the wrong class. This book is great because it shows how being “ungifted” can actually be an asset sometimes. You can count on Donovan to find a way to get things done that no one else would even think of!

Boys who are reluctant readers will especially enjoy this book, which has short chapters in large print, and will have your son reading nonstop to find out what happens next! For boys who are starting to like reading chapter books for fun, Ungifted by Gordon Korman is a good choice for 7th grade. It's about 300 pages long and funny enough that kids will want to read it from start to finish!

Details about Ungifted :

• Genre: Realistic Fiction
• Buy the Novel Unit: Ungifted Novel Study

6. Touching Spirit Bear by Bear Mikaelsen

Ideal for middle schools, Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is a powerful and thought-provoking story about a troubled teenager named Cole Matthews. The novel demonstrates how people can make terrible choices, but that everyone deserves a second chance.

Cole Matthews has been in trouble for most of his life because of his anger issues. He made one mistake that changed the course of his life and it led him to an Alaskan wilderness camp as part of the Circle Justice program. The program gave him the opportunity to face himself and heal from the past so he could move forward in a positive direction. His journey is told through flashbacks that reveal more about Cole's past mistakes and how they shaped who he was in the present time.

It's not until Cole has to face himself, and almost lose his own life, that he's able to find peace with what happened in the past so he can move forward with his future. A favorite of 6th grade and 7th grade readers, you'll definitely want to give this title a look.

7. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

The protagonist, a young Eskimo girl named Miyax, is living with her father and grandfather in the harsh, cold climate of the Arctic tundra. She is independent and has learned to survive in this environment, but she does not feel any real connection to her family. When her father leaves for San Francisco and her grandfather dies, Miyax runs away from home to find him. After a harrowing journey through Alaska’s wilderness, she adopts a pack of wolves as her new family and they help keep each other alive until she can return home in safety.

Like Touching Spirit Bear , Julie of the Wolves focuses on the harmony between humanity and nature. Miyax quickly learned that if she wanted to survive alone in Alaska's vast expanse of wilderness, she would have to live by its own set of rules. This meant everyone was treated as an equal—no matter what species or gender they were—and no one made decisions based on greed or vanity like humans so often do.

Despite being full of suspenseful moments that make you feel your heart racing inside your chest as you read them, these characters will make you wish you really could join their den for a while. This is one of my favorite winter novels , but it is a great read any time of year.

Details about Julie of the Wolves :

• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Buy the Novel Unit: Julie of the Wolves Novel Study

8. The Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes

The Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes is a beautifully written and eye-opening story about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath through the eyes of a young girl named Lanesha. A great historical fiction book for 7th graders, it is the story of Lanesha's life in New Orleans' Ninth Ward with her Mama Ya-Ya, who has raised her since she was orphaned as a baby. When Hurricane Katrina hits, Mama Ya-Ya does everything she can to protect Lanesha but the storm is too powerful and they are forced to evacuate.

After the hurricane, Lanesha is sent to live with her estranged father in Houston. She struggles to adjust to this new environment and finds it hard to trust anyone after what she's been through. But with the help of her new friend, Kaya, Lanesha starts to heal and eventually finds the courage to return to New Orleans and face her fears.

When considering 7th grade books, you should find a mix of relatable texts and those that can foster discussion and thought. The Ninth Ward is perfect for this because it is an important story that highlights the strength and resilience of the human spirit. It's also a reminder that natural disasters can happen anywhere at any time, and we must be prepared for them.

9. Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine

Hana's Suitcase is a true story about the Holocaust told through the lens of two children living half a world apart. In Tokyo, Japan, a young boy named Fumiko Ishioka is working on a school project about WWII and the Holocaust. She becomes interested in the story of a Jewish girl named Hana Brady who was sent to a concentration camp in Czechoslovakia.

Fumiko begins writing letters to Hana's surviving brother, George, who now lives in Toronto, Canada. Through their correspondence, Fumiko and George piece together the story of Hana's life and how she perished in the Holocaust.

Hana's Suitcase is an important book for children to read because it shows the power of human connection and the importance of remembering the past. It is a reminder that we must never forget what happened during the Holocaust, and that we must stand up against hatred and bigotry in all forms.

Details about Hana's Suitcase:

• Genre: Literary Nonfiction
• Buy the Novel Unit: Hana's Suitcase Study Guide

10. Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry

This Newbery Medal-winning book is the perfect choice for young readers who are looking for an adventure story with a strong message of courage and perseverance.

The novel follows the story of Mafatu, a young boy from an island tribe in Polynesia. Mafatu is different from the other boys in his tribe because he's afraid of the sea. He's constantly ridiculed and made to feel like an outcast because of his fear, but he decides that he's going to prove everyone wrong.

Mafatu sets out on a journey by himself in a small canoe, determined to catch fish and prove that he is just as brave as the other boys in his tribe. But when a big storm hits and his canoe is overturned, Mafatu has to face his biggest fear head-on. He's forced to swim for his life in the middle of the raging sea.

This story is an inspiring tale of courage and determination, and it shows that anyone can overcome their fears if they set their mind to it.

Details about Call It Courage :

• Buy the Novel Unit: Call It Courage Novel Study Guide

11. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

No 7th grade book list would be complete without at least a few of the classics. Louisa May Alcott's Little Women is a coming-of-age tale set during the American Civil War. The novel follows the lives of four sisters, Jo March, Beth March, Meg March and Amy March as they grow up in Concord, Massachusetts. If you enjoy reading about history or historical fiction this is a great book for you to read.

The family struggles to maintain their lifestyle because their father is off fighting in the war. The girls have to learn how to manage the home on their own and come up with ways of making money when times are tough. This book will teach you about women’s roles during this time period as well as give you an insight into what life was like during wartime. It also tackles issues such as discrimination, feminism, and classism during this era of American history.

12. Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Graphic novels can be great additions when you're considering 7th grade books. This coming-of-age graphic novel is perfect for middle schoolers who are looking for a relatable story about growing up.

The book follows the story of a girl in middle school who is trying to find her place in the world. She's dealing with all the usual things that come with being a teenager, like boys, bullies, and braces. But when she gets hit in the face with a baseball and has to get surgery, things start to get really complicated.

She has to learn how to deal with her new appearance, which includes metal wires holding her teeth together. She also has to deal with mean girls at school who make fun of her. But through it all, she learns that being yourself is the best thing you can do.

I love Raina Telegemeier's books, and you'll find more of them on my list of Halloween books .

13. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

The 1961 novel follows the adventures of a young boy named Billy Coleman and his two Redbone Coonhound hunting dogs in the Ozark Mountains. Set during the Great Depression, Billy spends every cent he can to purchase and train his hounds. After several years of training, they become renowned hunters and win many ribbons at competitions.

This story is mostly appreciated by readers ages 11-14 but it is well-known by people of all ages. Though it's an easy read, “Where The Red Fern Grows” will make anyone cry at some point during their reading adventure.

Details about Where the Red Fern Grows :

• Buy the Novel Unit: Where the Red Fern Grows Novel Study Guide

14. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

A Long Walk to Water is based on the true story of Salva Dut, a Sudanese boy who was forced to flee his home during the Second Sudanese Civil War. When he was just 11 years old, Salva was separated from his family and sent on a dangerous journey to Ethiopia. He spent several months walking through the desert, and when he finally arrived in Ethiopia, he was placed in a refugee camp.

The story then jumps to present day, where Salva is now an adult living in America. He works for an organization that builds wells in Sudan, and he is able to return to his home country to help others who are facing the same struggles that he once faced.

This is a powerful story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

15. The Giver by Lois Lowry

In a future society where pain, disease, war, and poverty have been eradicated, 12-year-old Jonas is selected to become the Receiver of Memory. This means that he will be responsible for carrying all of the memories of the world, both the good and the bad.

As Jonas begins to learn about the history of his society, he starts to question the rules that have been put in place. He wonders why people are not allowed to express their emotions, why they are not allowed to see colors, and why everyone must take a drug that makes them forget their memories.

Eventually, Jonas decides that the rules of his society are wrong and he starts to rebel against them. This leads to a series of events that will change his life forever.

Details about The Giver :

• Genre: Dystopian Fiction
• Buy the Unit Study Guide: The Giver Unit Study Guide

16. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a story told through pictures and words. It's the story of a young orphan living in London who survives by stealing food and living in the walls of a train station.

Hugo's life changes when he meets a young girl named Isabelle, who helps him try to solve the mystery of his late father's clockwork machine. Along the way, they learn about film history and the invention of the motion picture camera.

This is a beautiful and unique story that will appeal to readers of all ages, but it is one of my favorite 7th grade books.

18. Restart by Gordon Korman

Chase does not remember what happened the day he fell off the roof and hit his head. He only knows that he somehow ended up in the hospital with a concussion. But as Chase starts to piece together what happened, he realizes something about the person he was before his accident.

Chase was a bully. He would pick on other kids, make fun of them, and even steal from them. But after his accident, Chase is determined to change. He wants to be a better person and he does not want to go back to the way he was before.

But it is not going to be easy. Change is never easy. And as Chase starts to realize that, he also realizes that he might not be able to do it on his own.

Details about Restart :

• Buy the Unit Study Guide: Restart Novel Study Guide

19. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

In 1793, Philadelphia is gripped by a deadly fever. When Mattie Cook's mother and grandfather fall ill, she has to take over the family business. But as the disease starts to spread, Mattie must find a way to save her family and herself.

This is a historical fiction novel that is based on the real-life events of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia.

Details about Fever 1793 :

• Buy the Unit Study Guide: Fever 1793 Novel Study

20. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders is a classic novel about two rival gangs, the Socs and the Greasers. The story is told from the perspective of Ponyboy, a member of the Greasers. Great for advanced seventh or eighth graders, the story is a must-read for all students.

Ponyboy's world is turned upside down when his best friend, Johnny, kills a Soc in self-defense. The boys are forced to go on the run, and they must learn to trust each other if they want to survive.

21. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Josh and Jordan are twin brothers who love basketball. They are also dealing with the loss of their father, who died suddenly from a heart attack.

As they try to cope with their grief, they turn to basketball as a way to connect with their dad. They start to play street ball and soon they are known as the “twin towers” of the court.

But when Josh's game starts to suffer, he wonders if he will ever be able to play the game the way his father did.

22. The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L Holm

In this funny and heartwarming book, Ellie's scientist grandfather has discovered the secret to eternal youth. Now a teenager, he must figure out how to connect with his granddaughter, who is going through her own awkward phase. At the same time, he needs her help to get the formula for his discovery out to the world.

The Fourteenth Goldfish is a great book for kids who are interested in science, as it offers a look at some real-world scientific concepts. It's also perfect for kids who are dealing with their own changes and growing up.

Details about The Fourteenth Goldfish:

• Buy the Unit Study Guide: The Fourteenth Goldfish Novel Study Guide

23. How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor

Georgina's family has fallen on hard times. They have lost their house and they are living in their car.

Desperate to help her family, Georgina comes up with a plan to steal a dog. She knows that if she can find the right dog, she can surely find a rich owner who will pay big money to get it back.

But as Georgina starts to execute her plan, she realized that stealing a dog is not as easy as it seems. And she also begins to realize that the real value of a dog is not in the money, but in the love and companionship they provide.

Details about How to Steal a Dog:

• Buy the Unit Study Guide: How to Steal a Dog Novel Study

24. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Every year, the people of the Protectorate offer a baby as a sacrifice to the witch who lives in the forest. But one year, they accidentally offer up Luna, a foundling who has been raised by a loving couple.

The witch, who is not really a witch at all, takes Luna in and decides to raise her as her own. But when Luna's magical powers start to grow, the witch realizes that she may not be able to protect her from the dangers of the world.

This is a great book to introduce in October, as it has some spooky elements that make it a great Halloween read for older students. However, your students will enjoy it anytime!

25. Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen

By seventh grade, many students have read Paulsen's popular book Hatchet. However, many don't realize the book has a number of great sequels that are just as fantastic and still offer great learning opportunities for 7th-grade readers.

In this companion novel to Hatchet, Brian is stranded in the wilderness once again. But this time, it is winter and he is not prepared. Brian must find a way to survive the cold and the dangers of the forest if he wants to make it through the winter.

Details about Brian's Winter :

• Genre: Survival Fiction
• Buy the Unit Study Guide: Brian's Winter Novel Study

26. The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

The Watsons are a black family living in Flint, Michigan, in the 1960s. When their youngest son, Kenny, gets into trouble at school, they decide to send him down to Birmingham, Alabama, to live with his grandparents. But when they get there, they realize that Birmingham is not the safe haven they thought it would be.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 is a powerful story about family, friendship, and the fight for civil rights.

Details about The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 :

• Buy the Unit Study Guide: The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 Novel Study

27. The Cay by Theodore Taylor

A classic I discovered in sixth grade, The Cay by Theodore Taylor is a constant on the best seventh grade reading list. Set during World War II, the novel follows Phillip, a young boy who gets shipwrecked and stranded with an elderly Black man named Timothy. Forced to help each other survive against a harsh landscape and terrifying predators, Phillip learns about courage and friendship as he helps his newly blind companion navigate the wilderness.

Despite being written for younger audiences, this coming-of-age tale will capture the hearts of readers of all ages as they see how far one person can go to protect another. Themes like trust and acceptance are also included in this beautifully written story that aims to inspire young people with its page-turning plot.

28. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle

A Wrinkle in Time is a classic science fiction novel that has been captivating young readers for generations. The story follows Meg, who must travel through time and space to save her father from the evil forces that have captured him.

With its complex plot and themes of good vs. evil, A Wrinkle in Time is a great choice for seventh-grade readers. It is also a great choice for discussions about family, loyalty, and friendship.

Details about A Wrinkle in Time :

• Buy the Unit Study Guide: A Wrinkle in Time Unit Study Guide

29. Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

Seventh graders are in the midst of a period where they're exploring their beliefs and how they align with those of the people around them. Amal Unbound is a powerful story about a young girl's fight for freedom. Amal lives in Pakistan, where she is forced to work as a servant in her own home after her father incurs a debt to the wealthy landlord.

Determined to get an education so she can one day become a lawyer and help others like her, Amal risks everything to go to school. But when the landlord's son takes an interest in her, Amal must decide how far she is willing to go to get the education she needs.

30. Blood on the River: James Town, 1607 by Elisa Carbone

This historical fiction novel is based on the true story of the founding of James Town, Virginia. The story follows Samuel Collier, a young boy who is indentured to English captain John Smith and must go to America to work off his debt.

Once in America, Samuel finds himself in the middle of a conflict between the English and the Native Americans. When the English start to starve, Samuel must make a decision: should he help the Native Americans who have been so kind to him, or should he help his own people?

Blood on the River is a great choice for seventh-grade readers who are interested in history and want to learn more about the early days of America.

Details about Blood on the River:

• Buy the Unit Study Guide: Blood on the River Unit Study Guide

31. Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein by Jennifer Roy & Ali Fadhil

This is a true story about the author's brother, Ali Fadhil, who was living in Baghdad during the Gulf War. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, Ali's family was forced to flee to America.

While they are in America, the Gulf War starts and Ali is glued to the television, watching as his home country is bombed. He is also playing a lot of video games, including Atari, which he is very good at.

One day, Saddam Hussein appears on television playing the same game that Ali has been playing. This leads Ali to believe that if he can beat Saddam at the game, maybe he can stop the war.

Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein is a great choice for seventh-grade readers who are interested in history, the Middle East, or video games.

32. PICKLE: The Formerly Anonymous Prank Club of Fountain Point Middle School by Kim Baker

This hilarious novel is perfect for seventh-grade readers who are looking for a laugh. The story follows Ben, Frank, Oliver, and Bean, a group of middle school students who start a prank club. But when their pranks start to get out of hand, the boys must figure out how to stop before they get into serious trouble.

PICKLE is one of those 7th grade books that will make students laugh and is a great choice for readers who are looking for a funny and light-hearted read. It is also a great choice for discussions about bullying, peer pressure, and making good choices.

Details about PICKLE :

• Buy the Unit Study: PICKLE Novel Study

33. Front Desk by Kelly Yang

This is a heartwarming story about Mia Tang, who moves to America from China with her parents. Mia's family runs a motel, and Mia does everything she can to help, even though she is only nine years old.

Mia struggles to adjust to life in America, but she quickly makes new friends with the other kids who live at the motel. Together, they start a secret business to help the guests at the motel and to stand up to the mean manager.

Front Desk is a great choice for seventh-grade readers who are looking for a feel-good story about friendship, determination, and standing up for what's right.

34. Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli

This is the story of a young boy named Misha who lives on the streets of Warsaw during World War II. Misha is a member of the resistance movement, and he helps smuggle Jewish children out of the ghetto.

But when Misha is caught by the Nazis, he must use all his strength and courage to survive. Milkweed is a great choice for seventh-grade readers who are interested in history or in stories about the Holocaust.

Details about Milkweed:

• Buy the Unit Study Guide: Milkweed Unit Study Guide

35. Apple in the Middle by Dawn Quigley

This coming-of-age story centers on a 16-year-old girl named Apple. Despite being half Native American and half white, a formative experience on the playground as a child left Apple unsure just where she belongs.

When her father drops her offer with her Native American relatives one summer on the Turtle Mountain Indian reservation in North Dakota, Apple experiences a new way of life and learns about her heritage. Ultimately, what felt foreign at first begins to feel like home, as Apple discovers her place in the world.

Apple in the Middle is a great choice for seventh-grade readers who are looking for a story about identity, family, and belonging.

Details about Apple in the Middle:

• Buy the Unit Study Guide: Apple in the Middle Novel Study

Ready to Plan your 7th Grade Novel Study?

These are just a few of the great books that seventh-grade readers will enjoy. For more book recommendations, be sure to check out our other blog posts or contact your local librarian.

While you're here, grab my free novel study planning roadmap to get step-by-step support to plan a high-quality literature unit for your seventh-grade students whether you're in the classroom or homeschooling. Whether you're planning your first novel study or just looking for new ideas, you'll love this great tool.

Looking for more great books to add to your home or classroom library?

It’s so important for kids to love to read. After all, reading is the key that unlocks the door to understanding everything else in school. Reading is also crucial for making and keeping friends, and being a good friend helps kids manage stress and anxiety.

If you've got a broad range of reading levels or are trying to diversify your classroom library without spending a ton of money , here are some of my favorite books for other reading levels.

If you've already filled your book list for 7th grade, don't worry! I've got you covered. Click a grade level below to access more great novels.

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100 Best Books for 7th Graders (12 Year Olds)

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There are so many upper middle grade books for 7th graders in middle school ages 12 and 13, so how do you find the best book reading choices for your 7th grade student or child?

Using my background as a teacher, parent, and book reviewer, I’ve written a curated list of my top book picks with reviews for 7th graders to help you find good middle-grade books for 7th graders with different interests, topics, and genres!

I update this book list on a monthly basis to include the newest releases. Last updated November 2023!

Top 7th Grade Fantasy Books

• Amari and the Night Brothers  by B.B. Alston
• The Ruins of Gorlan: Ranger’s Apprentice by John A. Flanagan
• Willa of the Wood  by Robert Beatty
• Once There Was  by Kiyash Monsef
• An Ember in the Ashes  by Sabaa Tahir
• Barren Grounds: The Misewa Saga  by David A. Robertson
• Legend of the Dream Giants  by Dustin Hansen 
• Unwanteds  by Lisa McMann

For a bit easier books, read the  Best Books for 6th Graders, 11 Year Olds . Also, look for the label SHORT by the genre tag to find books that are shorter reads.

For short nonfiction books, which I love giving to readers,  try this book list .

Best Coming of Age Books for 7th Grade Boys and Girls

• How to Stay Invisible  by Maggie C. Rudd
• The Probability of Everything  by Sarah Everett
• The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn  by Sally J. Pla
• Rain Rising  by Courtne Comrie 
• A Monster Calls  by Patrick Ness
• House Arrest  by K.A. Holt (verse)
• Starfish  by Lisa Fipps
• No Place Like Home  by James Bird
• Orbiting Jupiter  by Gary D. Schmidt
• Rare Birds  by Jeff Miller
• Across the Desert   by Dusti Bowling 
• Maybe He Just Likes You  by Barbara Dees
• Sara and the Search for Normal   by Wesley King
• Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel  by Jason Reynolds 

What if my 12 year old needs harder books?

For more challenging books, check out my  Best Book for Teens list   or  Challenging Books for Young Advanced Readers .

Get a PDF download of the top books from this 7th grade book list!

What are the best book series for 7th graders.

• Best Book Series for 7th Graders

Best Books for 7th Graders (12 year olds)

Amari and the Night Brothers  by B.B. Alston FANTASY   Fantastic fantasy world-building, excellent writing, a strong Black female heroine, and a surprise plot twist ending are just a few reasons you’ll love this book.  Amari’s beloved older brother has vanished but she gets a virtual message from him revealing that she’s a magician and will get to attend a secret magician school. At the school, she discovers she’s actually an outlawed dark magic magician. Amari knows she’s not evil and is determined to prove it and stay in the school so she can find her missing brother who used to attend there.

How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd REALISTIC A heartbreaking and hopeful survival story . Raymond’s neglectful parents abandon him completely so he takes his dog Rosie, and they set up camp in the woods behind his middle school. There, he survives on his own, foraging in dumpsters and fishing for food as he continues to attend school. When a playful coyote hurts Rosie, he meets an old man who helps them both — which is especially significant because it’s over the Christmas break when he can’t get dumpster food from school. Raymond doesn’t want to tell anyone, including the old man or his two friends at school, what he’s surviving, but the truth comes out when another boy discovers his campsite and a snake bite almost kills him. HOW TO STAY INVISIBLE is a powerful story of grit, survival, and longing for family.

Allies  by Alan Gratz HISTORICAL FICTION Written from many different voices about one day in history, readers easily can see the massive amount of cooperation, planning, and troops from different countries involved in D-Day  (when the Allies invaded France at Normandy.) We hear from an American teenage soldier who was born in Germany, a French Algerian girl whose mom who is a recently captured spy,  a Canadian paratrooper who lands in the wrong spot, and an American black medic. It’s violent and disheartening yet despite terrible losses, racism, and injuries, the fighters persist despite everything to accomplish their goal — to take back the area for the Allies. What an incredible retelling of this day!

Ali Cross  by James Patterson MYSTERY ADVENTURE If you want an enthralling adventure & mystery book for 7th graders that you can’t put down, read this one next.  It’s Christmas Eve. Ali’s friend Gabe is missing, his FBI-agent dad is falsely accused of murdering an old man, and someone broke into their house while they were at church and stole his dad’s service weapon. Ali knows he has to try to fix things, starting by finding his friend Gabe. Don’t miss book two,  Like Father, Like Son .

The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett REALISTIC (For this book review, I’m not going to tell you too much about the story– because it would spoil your reading experience.) Kemi adores her close-knit family, her African American artist mom, her baby sister, a baby sibling on the way, and most of all, her beloved Nigerian dad. When an asteroid threatens everyone on Earth with imminent death, Kemi and her family leave for her cousins’ house, where she starts a time capsule. The exceptional storytelling is emotional (I cried SO MUCH) and important with themes of family, racism, and values. A must-read, must-experience-for-yourself-kind-of book.

The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity written by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Brett Helquist NONFICTION You will love the incredible writing, the fun illustrations, the biographical information about the curious, brilliant, and distractable Leonardo Da Vinci, the other art heists from the poorly guarded Louvre (one involving Pablo Picasso), the burgeoning science of fingerprints to replace France’s ear-measuring methodology and the surprising, eventual discovery of the Mona Lisa. Interestingly, the Mona Lisa wasn’t a well-known painting until this art heist in 1911. And the Louvre wasn’t well-attended until after this dramatic theft. The theft was dramatic because the thief simply walked out with the stolen painting tucked under his shirt. Highly recommended!

Louder Than Hunger  by John Schu REALISTIC   VERSE After facing relentless bullying, middle schooler Jake’s mean Voice is the loudest thing he hears. Soon, Jake trusts the Voice and listens to it when it tells him he needs to be thinner, he shouldn’t eat, he shouldn’t trust anyone, and nobody loves him.  His  anorexia  gets so bad that he’s hospitalized with the Voice sabotaging him every step of the way. But after months of struggle, Jake finds a glimmer of hope and it makes all the difference.  The writing is exquisite  — every word, every line break, every capitalization, every bit of dialogue brings us on this painful journey.

Rain Rising  by Courtne Comrie  REALISTIC RAIN RISING is a multilayered story about mental health , racism, family, friendship, and self-love — with a main character that you’ll cheer on through her complicated growing-up journey.  Rain’s older brother Xander gets brutally attacked and barely speaks anymore. Rain can barely cope. In an after-school group, she starts to make new friends, and she slowly finds her way back to health through therapy and group support. Intense and heartbreaking and heart-putting back together, This good book for 7th graders is important, beautiful, and hard to put down.

Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II  written by Adam Gitwitz HISTORICAL FICTION Max is a super-smart  Jewish  boy living in Germany during World War II. He loves his family and tinkering with radios. Then,  his parents send Max to safety on the Kindertransport.  He’s joined by two personality-filled (grumpy) mythical creatures, a dybbuk and a kobold, living on his shoulders. Once in England, Max’s sole focus is returning to Germany to help his parents. His clever tactics impress the British spies, and the government agrees to recruit Max if he can pass their rigorous spy training. Brilliant, exciting, and funny!

A Monster Calls  by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Jim Kay MAGICAL REALISM Worth reading and rereading because there are layers of meaning, skillful writing, and a haunting truthtelling that resonates with us all.  Ever since Conor’s mom got breast cancer, a wild, ancient tree monster visits Conor’s nightmares.  The monster demands that Conor admit the truth about his mother, but Conor refuses. In the awake world, Conor moves in with his cold, unfriendly grandmother. The metaphorical nightmare echoes Conor’s real-world experiences as we journey with him into pain, loss, and eventually, healing. Astonishing and powerful, this is one of the best books I’ve EVER read.

Gone to the Woods  by Gary Paulsen MEMOIR This is a compelling, disturbing, and hopeful childhood story of hardship and survival  with moments of kindness and time in nature that sustain the neglected, determined young boy. I highly recommend this book for 7th grader book clubs and 12-year-olds who like  survival stories .

What Happened to Rachel Riley?  by Claire Swinarski REALISTIC / SEXUAL HARASSMENT Stunning, thought-provoking, and anger-inducing,  this is a superbly written story about an ostracized middle school girl and the new student determined to figure out why…It’s about sexual harassment and negligent teachers,  girls touched without consent, and the path out of that shame toward justice and empowerment. I highly recommend this middle grade book for middle school  book clubs  and everyone!

The Last Cuentista   by Donna Barba Higuera  SCIENCE FICTION Petra is on a spaceship traveling to a new home after the Earth is destroyed.  When Petra awakens, she learns that her parents have been killed and her brother is missing, plus all the other humans’ memories have been erased. Except for her’s! Petra is determined to foil the sinister Collective’s plan to control everyone, but she plays the part of a mind-controlled teenager and secretly shares Mexican cuentos with the other Zetas. Her determination will save not only the Zetas but possibly an entire civilization of settlers. Petra is a brave, fierce girl who shows us that we are less than human without art, music, and stories.  Había una vez…

A Duet for Home  by Karina Yan Glaser REALISTIC /  HOMELESSNESS A powerful story with complex, three-dimensional characters about grief, family, community, and homelessness. When their family becomes homeless after her dad dies, June helps her little sister and non-speaking mom get settled at Huey House.  Despite the shock of their new situation, June finds kindness from many of the people at the shelter. But when Mrs. G, their social worker gets fired for not agreeing to the city’s new homeless policies, June helps organize a protest and discovers that home isn’t a place and family isn’t always blood.

The Brave  by James Bird REALISTIC When Collin, a neurodiverse boy, gets kicked out of another school, his neglectful father sends Collin to live with his mom.  Collin has never met his mother but he’s curious to meet her and live on the Ojibwe reservation. Living with her is a totally different experience than his previous home — because with his mother, he’s welcomed and not judged. He befriends the neighbor girl who teaches Collin how to be brave. Which he needs. And so does she because she’s going to be a butterfly soon…

Maybe He Just Likes You  by Barbara Dees REALISTIC Middle schooler Mila is feeling trapped— a group of basketball-playing boys is getting too close, grabbing her, touching her, and then telling her that she’s imagining it.  Ignoring doesn’t stop the behaviors, neither does telling an adult, telling her friends, or wearing baggier clothing. Now her toxic friend Zara is acting mad and jealous that Mila’s getting the boys’ attention. Unexpectedly, Mila finds her strength when she starts karate classes. That helps her find what works to put a stop to the harassment.  This is one of the essential books for 7th graders; it should be shared widely with middle school boys and girls. 

House Arrest  by K.A. Holt REALISTIC You’ll feel so many emotions reading this tender, heartwarming story that shows a brave boy who feels anger, fear, worry, and love over his challenging situation.  Timothy is under house arrest for the next year, living with a brother who needs constant medical care, and feeling so much pain over his big life changes.  Part of his year-long punishment is to meet with a probation officer, meet with a therapist, and write in a journal which is the book we’re reading. When his little brother gets assigned an abusive new nurse, Timothy feels like even if he gets thrown in juvie, he must do something drastic to help his brother. Written in poetic verse , this great book speeds along and pulls your heart along with it.

Sona and the Golden Beasts  written by Rajani LaRocca FANTASY In a world divided by race, Sona rescues a forbidden but sacred wolf pup with golden ears chased by a hunter. He’ll stop at nothing to kill the pup and steal its gemstone. To save the wolf, Sona flees to her grandmother’s after learning that she’s an illegal child of both the ruling class and the persecuted class. To save her sick grandmother from the goldstorm, Sona and her mistrustful cousin travel across the country to find the sacred drops that are only given to the worthy and give them to her grandmother.  It’s an exciting adventure in a unique world reminiscent of India’s history in which our heroine faces moral quandaries, the complexities of humanity, and the power of forgiveness and kindness. 

The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival   written by Estelle Nadel, Sammy Savos, and Bethany Strout, art by Sammy Strout HISTORICAL FICTION In this true story of the  Holocaust , Enia lived a carefree life of family and singing in Poland.  But everything changed when she was seven years old, and the Nazis came. The Nazis took her father, who was never seen again and the rest of her family fled into hiding. Kind neighbors hid Enia’s family in an attic, but soon, it was only Enia and her brother in hiding for several years. Despite deaths, betrayal, and years of hiding, Enia’s survival instincts carried her through. This is a beautifully crafted historical fiction graphic biography for ages 10+. It’s  an emotional journey of survival, love, and hope  in the most harrowing times. I highly recommend this  graphic novel , now more than ever.

Hands  by Torrey Maldonado CONTEMPORARY (SHORT) Trev thinks a lot about throwing hands.  He starts learning how to box so he can protect his mom and sisters when his stepdad gets out of jail. But when his Uncle Larry, Quick and Uncle Frankie all ask him why and encourage him to use his brain, Trev sees how fighting could make things even more of a mess. And that if he wants to have a future, he can use his hands differently than fighting, including for his drawings. Maldonado writes shorter books so keep that in mind if your 7th grader is looking for a short book.

The Ruins of Gorlan: Ranger’s Apprentice  book 1 by John A. Flanagan FANTASY Will is apprenticed to become a Ranger, a job he’s unsure about. But as he develops a relationship with his master and learns what being a Ranger is all about (spying for the kingdom,) and comes to embrace his new life. When an old enemy of the kingdom sends out dangerous beasts to attack Will’s master, Will is instrumental in getting help and killing the creatures.  Action, fantasy, adventure, friendship, excellent writing — this book series has it all!   Ranger’s Apprentice  is a must-read, mesmerizing epic fantasy.

Starfish  by Lisa Fipps REALISTIC / BODY IMAGE & SIZE /  VERSE Heartbreaking and inspiring, this poignant book for 7th grade readers in verse shows a girl who learns, after years of fat-shaming and bullying, to define herself  not  based on what others say but on who she really is.  Ellie’s mom won’t buy her new clothes because she thinks it encourages Ellie’s weight gain and is pushing for a dangerous gastro-bypass surgery. Fortunately, Ellie gets support from an understanding therapist who helps her move from powerless to powerful — and accept herself as she is–beautiful and worthy. 

Shark Teeth by Sherri Winston REALISTIC FICTION A deeply moving story of 12-year-old Sharkita, who has been in and out of  foster care  since she was three and is the primary parent for her two younger siblings , one of whom has special needs. Returning home from foster care, Sharkita hopes things will be different but is waiting for her mama to be herself again, leaving them alone for days and drinking too much. When her best friend convinces Sharkita to go out for twirling with the cool new Vice Principal coach, it’s the first time she’s done something for herself and not her siblings. Then, when the unthinkable happens, Sharkita’s life of constant crisis and debilitating anxiety is revealed…and  maybe the worst thing ever will lead to something better.

The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree  by Lucille Abendadon HISTORICAL FICTION Set in the Dutch East Indies during World War II, this is a stunning based-on-a-true story about friendship, survival, grief, prejudice, and equity.  Emmy’s best friend is Bakti, a Javenese boy whose mom cooks for Emmy and her dad. She’s shocked to learn Bakti’s angry because he can’t go to school and his support for the Japenese invasion. When the Japanese invade, they separate Emmy from her dad, and she’s sent to a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp for several years. As she survives the camp’s death and starvation and befriends her former enemy, she learns what’s important. It’s a moving story with an interesting history that I couldn’t put down!

Willa of the Wood  by Robert Beatty HISTORICAL  FANTASY Set in the time of early American settlers, this is  a beautiful story of love about a night spirit who is still connected to the powerful wood magic of her ancestors . When Willa accidentally discovers that her clan is keeping human captives and forbidden technology, her Faeran clan leader wants her dead. Fleeing the danger of her home, Willa cautiously observes a human man, slowly learning to trust him. When she realizes that one of his children was one of the human captives she saw, Willa knows she must return to her clan and make things right.

No Place Like Home by James Bird REALISTIC / HOMELESSNESS / OJIBWE Beautiful character development, vivid details, and a strong narrative voice draw you into this story about homelessness, Ojibwe culture, growing up, family, and the love of a dog. Based on James’ childhood, Opin is a sweet, hopeful boy who lives with his mom and his older brother in their car, traveling from city to city. He adores his mother, but he’s scared of his angry, violent older brother, who comes and goes as he pleases. When Opin finds a hurt dog, the love of a dog fills a friend void for Opin–until his brother takes the dog away. Despite the challenges of Opin’s life, beauty and joy are threaded throughout this compelling story that is one of the best of 2023. *Sensitive readers, there are a few swear words.

Rare Birds by Jeff Miller REALISTIC / SAD 288 pages Graham’s mom moves them to Florida to wait for a heart transplant. When his mom gets approved, Graham stays with his mom’s friend and his angry son. Fortunately, at the hospital, he befriends a girl named Lou. When he finds his mom’s rare bird journal, Lou helps him search for the last bird on the list–the Snail Kite. But because there’s prize money for finding the bird, bully kids not only thwart them but endanger them–stranding Lou and Graham in a swamp with a giant alligator and no cell service. The friends’ search is filled with challenges, which they face with bravery and determination, including the truth about Lou. I loved the two-page chapter lengths and the emotionally resonate story of friendship and family that will make you cry.

Free Lunch  by Rex Ogle REALISTIC / MEMOIR Powerful, memorable, and beautifully written for mature readers,  Ogle writes about surviving his poverty and violence-filled childhood. It’s sixth grade, and every lunch, Rex must loudly announce to the hard-of-hearing lunch ladies that he gets free lunch. Not only is Rex shamed by free lunch but also his outfits and constant hunger and violent home life. It’s ultimately a story of survival that may be relatable to some readers and will build empathy in others.

Ghost Boys  by Jewell Parker Rhodes REALISTIC This book brilliantly  addresses the very real issue of police violence against black children , but it does not vilify or stereotype. The author shows us the complexity of issues and the humanity of a police officer from the perspective of his daughter. After Jerome is shot by her father, he becomes a ghost. Sarah, the policeman’s daughter, is the only one who can see and talk to him except for the other ghost boys who were also killed in racially motivated violence. It’s a well-written, fast-paced read but one that is going to stay with you as you ponder the important topics it addresses.

Lockwood & Co The Screaming Staircase  by Jonathan Stroud GHOST ADVENTURE Dangerous ghosts and spirits are appearing everywhere in London, but only certain kids can see them.  Teens Lucy, Anthony, and George badly need money for their ghost-hunting agency, Lockwood & Co., so they take a perilous job that, if the ghosts have their way, may just be their last. It’s also a  book made into a Netflix show !  BOXED SET.

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus  by Dusti Bowling REALISTIC Aven Green is used to making up creative stories for why she doesn’t have any arms. Especially now in Arizona where her parents are the new managers of a rundown theme park. She befriends a boy at school who, like her, feels different and isolated from the other kids. His name is Connor and he has  Tourette Syndrome. Together, he, another new friend named Zion, and Aven investigate a mysterious storage shed that connects to Aven’s past.  This story is about restorative friendship,  facing your fears , and discovering your true (significant) potential.  

Once There Was  by Kiyash Monsef FANTASY This brilliant book mesmerized me from the first page with layered storytelling, plot twists, and surprises. Marjan’s alone and the owner of her dad’s veterinary practice since he died, even though she’s only a sophomore in high school. When asked to help a sick gryffin,  she’s shocked to discover her father’s secret job as a mythical creature vet.  She tries to unravel the lies and secrets in her father’s life, including if he was murdered, but the world of magical creatures is confusing and filled with trickery. Marjan isn’t sure if she can trust her instincts about right and wrong…and she feels like she’s missing part of herself. Woven within the narrative story are her father’s Iranian folktales about mythical creatures. Worth every page!

Black Bird, Blue Road  by Sofiya Pasternack  HISTORICAL FANTASY Set in the historical Turkic Jewish empire of Khazaria, Ziva’s beloved twin brother with leprosy continues to deteriorate , and she learns he’ll be taken by her uncle, so she steals him away to search for a cure. Along their journey, they meet a half-demon boy who tells them about a mythical city where the Angel of Death can not enter. They journey toward the city and Ziva clings to the hope that the city will be the answer to everything. She’ll bargain and beg with Death, but ultimately, she’ll have to accept that in life, we all must die. This feels like an epic adventure and will sure to be a favorite new book.

An Ember in the Ashes  by Sabaa Tahir HISTORICAL / FANTASY Part historical (ancient Rome) and part fantasy, Elias and Laia live in a world that enslaves them both in different ways — Elias with fighting and Laia with serving and spying.  This is an epic page-turning series with lots of mystery, action, and a hint of romance.  It’s SO good that it’s one of the most popular YA books right now but one that could be read by younger readers in 7th grade.

The Fort  by Gordon Korman (his 100th book!) REALISTIC Tension-filled, disturbing, and powerful, this story alternates the points of view of a group of boys who are each dealing with their own struggles including poverty, OCD, bullying, and domestic abuse.  When the boys discover an abandoned bomb shelter in the forest, they make it their fort, which becomes a special and safe place. When one boy, the outsider who isn’t friends with everyone yet, figures out what’s happening with the abused boy who is secretly sleeping in the fort, all the friends try to help him, but it’s tricky and complicated.

Barren Grounds: The Misewa Saga  by David A. Robertson FANTASY /  INDIGENOUS CULTURE Foster  kids with Indigenous heritage , Morgan and Eli, discover a portal in the attic leading to a magical world of Cree language and mythology.  It’s a world with talking animals who walk on two legs and need their help. Ochek, the Fischer, asks the kids to end the starving community’s forever winter by finding the human man who stole all the birds and, with them, summer. Their dangerous quest triggers Morgan’s memories of her mother and a new perspective on who she is. The children travel far with their new friends and experience danger and trials in order to save this beautiful world.

How To Find What You’re Not Looking For  by Veera Hiranandani HISTORICAL FICTION In a beautiful story of family, love, and forgiveness, a Jewish girl named Ariel’s older sister falls in love and runs away to marry a Hindu boy after the Loving vs. Virginia verdict.  Ariel misses her sister terribly, but her parents refuse to talk about her sister or let Ariel have her sister’s contact information. Meanwhile, Ariel’s  teacher thinks she has a learning disability called dysgraphia but Ariel’s mom  refuses to consider it. Her  teacher encourages her to write poetry  which helps her express her feelings.

Legend of the Dream Giants  by Dustin Hansen  FANTASY Gorgeous, sensory writing fills the pages of this beautifully-crafted story about a young, naive giant named Berg who is searching for his place in the world.  He doesn’t want to be like the monstrous but because he’s so innocent, he’s tricked and becomes a prisoner of a town. This one of my favorite books for 7th graders about trust, hope, belonging, friendship, and truth.

Steelheart  by Brandon Sanderson SCI-FI I love this unique world with its plot twists and turns. E pics are super-powerful, evil god-like creatures who control the world’s cities . Because David’s father was killed by Chicago’s Epic named Steelheart, David wants revenge. He joins the rebel group, the Reckoners, to learn how to assassinate Steelheart– a next to impossible feat for a regular human like him. This is a page-turning, mesmerizing YA book series.  Boxed Set HERE .

Children of the Fox  by Kevin Sands  FANTASY ADVENTURE Callan’s a gaffer who joins a group of kids who are hired by a Weaver to steal something magical called the Eye. It’s a tricky job with not enough time to plan and all the kids know it’s dangerous but the monetary reward is too tempting. The misfits use their individual skills including climbing, mapping, acrobatics, and knife throwing to plan a heist in less than a week.  It’s an exciting, complex, and unexpected plot involving magic and mythological gods from the stories with themes of problem-solving, friendship, and trust that ends with both an amazing resolution  and  a cliffhanger. 

Escape from Atlantis  by Kate O’Hearn ADVENTURE Don’t miss this wildly inventive, exciting, and thought-provoking adventure.  Riley, her dad, her cousin, and her aunt are sailing in the Bermuda Triangle when they’re attacked by a leviathan. Riley and her unpleasant cousin, Alfie, wake up on an island with overly friendly, rule-centered people including half-animal people. They soon learn the sinister truth of the rule-centric community and are determined to escape. What a great book for 7th graders!

Across the Desert   by Dusti Bowling  REALISTIC  / DRUG ADDICTION Across the Desert   is a stunning story about a brave girl who has been secretly dealing with her mother’s opioid addiction. Jolene is the only person who knows that her only friend Addie has crashed her ultralight plane alone in the middle of the desert. So Jolene steals her mom’s phone and credit card to takes the bus as close as she can to Addie’s location. On the bus, she meets a kind and helpful teenager named Marty who, despite Jolene’s reluctance and mistrust, helps Jolene.  The story is about trust, relationships, boundaries, addiction, survival, and family; it’s also an emotional journey of inner and outer strength that leads to hope and healing. 

Taking Up Space  by Alyson Gerber REALISTIC  / BODY DYSMORPHIA & EATING DISORDERS Sarah’s mom’s dysfunctional relationship with food is affecting Sarah– who now thinks that her slowness in basketball is related to eating too much or too many “unhealthy” foods, instead of being from the normal growing pains of puberty.  She’s confused, starving herself, and stressed out. Finally, a friend pushes Sarah to get help…and, help is just what Sarah needs to understand the truth about her body, what health truly is, and how her mom’s disordered eating has affected her.  EXCELLENT!

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla Maudie is an autistic girl staying with her father for the summer but a California fire forces them from their cabin. She and her dad head south to where her dad grew up. A friend sets them up in an old camper at a campground near the beach. While her dad looks for work, Maudie works up her courage to ask an older surfer woman for lessons. She spends the summer worrying about her big secret and learning to surf, hoping to win the beginning surfer competition at the end of the summer. Maudie makes a new friend who is friendly and neurodiverse like her. All of these things help her consider that she is more than what her mom and her abusive stepdad think of her. This is a moving coming of age story of a girl who learns to thrive instead of survive.

96 Miles  by J.L. Esplin SURVIVAL “ Dad always said if things get desperate, it’s okay to drink the water in the toilet bowl. ” Isn’t this a great first sentence? An apocalyptic event has happened, there’s no electricity, the brothers are alone, and all their dad and their survival supplies are stolen at gunpoint. Now John and Stewart are on the road trying to get to a friend’s ranch for their supplies. It’s not going well–they’ve picked up a girl and her little brother, not to mention Stewart is nonstop fighting with John.  If you like survival stories, sibling stories, and adventure, this is a great choice.

Attack of the Black Rectangles  by A.S. King  REALISTIC Multi-layered and compelling with themes of censorship, family, crushes, and growing up…  6th grade Mac lives in a town that bans Halloween, pizza delivery, bright house colors, and staying out past curfew. At school, his book group notices that certain words and phrases are blacked out in  The Devil’s Arithmetic  by Jane Yolen. Mac and his friends Denis and Marci decide to find the original and fight back.

A First Time for Everything  by Dan Santat MEMOIR   In this memoir,  Dan describes a transformative trip during the summer before high school that helped him grow from awkward and insecure to confident and outgoing.  The trip gave the students lots of freedom. He tries beer and cigarettes. He meets a cute girl and finds the courage to get to know her, even sharing a kiss. He falls in love with the cultures and languages, too. Readers will probably want their own European experiences, too. Although, I hope that the kids would be better supervised than Dan was!

Omar Rising  by Aisha Saeed REALISTIC A superb book of determination, resiliency, and community set in  Pakistan .  Omar gets a scholarship to attend a prestigious Pakistani boarding school, a step in fulfilling his dream of becoming an astronomer and buying his mom a house. But, his hopes are dashed when he’s told that scholarship students must work, must get A+ grades, and can’t do sports or clubs. Omar is grateful for his new friends and teachers but he’s worried he’ll lose it all, so he studies all the time, even asking for tutoring help from the strict headmaster. Despite his efforts, his grades aren’t enough and he gets kicked out. Until, his classmates support him with a walk-out and the headmaster gets the board to change their mind, and the rules.

The Door by the Staircase  by Katherine Marsh, illustrations by Kelly Murphy  FANTASY / FAIRY TALE Middle schoolers will LOVE this  fantastic  Baba Yaga story about a brave and smart orphan girl, Mary,  who wants a home, even if it’s with Baba Yaga.  She just has to figure out how to be sure Baba Yaga won’t eat her, and she does so with help from her friend Jacob and MAGIC!

Orbiting Jupiter  by Gary D. Schmidt REALISTIC Joseph is an abused boy with a violent father, a parent at age thirteen, and is now living as a foster kid with Jack’s family on their organic farm . As he learns to trust them, we slowly learn about Joseph’s deep love for a rich girl named Maddie, his daughter named Jupiter, who he’s never seen, and his shattering heartbreak. This is an amazing story– painful yet filled with redemption and hope — beautifully written and one that will give readers so much to ponder.

Front Desk  by Kelly Yang REALISTIC Mia and her parents have struggled ever since moving to America from China. When her parents take a new live-in job at a motel, they end up working around the clock for very little pay. Mia helps out by working at the front desk. She befriends the weekly tenants and uses her English skills to write letters advocating other people in tough spots— like her uncle whose sweatshop boss has taken his passport and weekly, Hank, who needs a letter of recommendation to get a job.  This book is more than a memorable coming-of-age immigrant story, it’s also about tolerance and diversity and a must-read story you won’t soon forget.

Winterhouse  by Ben Guterson, illustrated by Chloe Bristol MYSTERY Elizabeth, an orphan, is unexpectedly sent to a large, stately hotel with a kind, grandfatherly proprietor for Christmas vacation. There,  she discovers a magical book, a sinister couple, a family mystery , and a new friend who loves puzzles as much as she does. The writing is mesmerizing, the mystery is fascinating, and the characters are enchanting.

See You in the Cosmos  by Jack Cheng REALISTIC Luminous and heartfelt, 11-year-old Alex Petroski’s story will grab your heart and expand it.  His dream is to launch a rocket into space with his iPod of recordings about life on earth. The story is a transcription of what he records on the iPod — his solo journey to the rocket convention, the interesting people he befriends on the way and there, his trip Las Vegas to find information about his deceased father, and his unique, innocent perspective that tries to make sense of the world.

Unwanteds  by Lisa McMann FANTASY In this society, you are sorted as Wanted, Necessary, and Unwanted. Alex is an Unwanted and is sent to die.  But instead of death, Alex is rescued by a magician who has created a secret, magical haven for the Unwanteds where they live and train to use their magic skills. I love the creative magical characters in this world, like Alex’s art teacher — an octagator! Here’s the problem — Alex is a twin whose brother is a Wanted. Alex risks the safety of his new home to see his twin in the old world. His actions reveal the secret world and war breaks out.

Sara and the Search for Normal   by Wesley King REALISTIC /  MENTAL ILLNESS Sara wants to be cured of her mental illnesses and be “normal” like other kids so she makes rules for herself.  She hates her out-of-control brain but begins group therapy where she makes a friend; a friend who is covered in hidden bruises. Sara and Erin think of themselves as Star Children, kids wth alien DNA. It’s profoundly sad to witness Sara’s self-loathing. For readers, it’s a valuable opportunity to see inside Sara’s mind and how painful it is to have an invisible disease. 

The Van Gogh Deception  by Deron Hicks MYSTERY  /  ADVENTURE Written like an adult suspense novel, this is one of the best edge-of-your-seat mystery books for middle grade that I’ve ever read.  The author jumps around, showing various incidents and people. You’ll have no idea what is going on or what will happen next. A boy with no memory is found at the National Gallery staring at a Degas sculpture. Strangely, this boy does know a great deal about art and artists. Soon we learn he’s being hunted by a team of professional bad guys. The boy, Art, and his foster sister escape from several kidnapping attempts and begin to unravel who he is and what’s going on.

Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel  by Jason Reynolds  REALISTIC / GRAPHIC NOVEL An illustrated version of Jason Reynolds’ free verse book about Will, a teenager who witnesses his own brother get shot.  He needs to follow The Rules and take revenge on the killer. But, as he travels seven floors in an elevator, each level provides an encounter with a deceased person, and their conversations halt Will’s plans and reveal to him the bigger story of what really happened with his brother. 

Bomb  by Steve Sheinkin, illustrated by Nick Bertozzi HISTORY / GRAPHIC NOVEL Three major storylines depict the significant historical events around the making of the atomic bomb : the Germans breaking the atom, the spy who was caught after giving the Russians the American plans for a nuclear bomb, and the American scientists working in New Mexico at a secret site to develop the atomic bomb. The stories are fascinating, more so because they’re based on actual events, but I did get bogged down with some of the science. Sheinkin and Bertozzi successfully capture the urgency scientists felt to compete with other countries and their singular focus.  *some bad language

Bloom  by Kenneth Oppel SCI-FI Get ready for a wild ride of suspense, action, adventure, science fiction, and coolness!!  Bloom tells the story of three kids who are not affected by the strange-looking plants that appear out of nowhere and take over land all over the world, covering houses and streets, swallowing animals and people but doing nothing to these kids. Scientists figure out that the plants are an alien invasion…and think these kids may be the only chance they have to stop them. To avoid spoilers, I’ll just tell you that it’s an AWESOME story…and ends on a crazy cliffhanger.

Sky Full of Song  by Susan Lynn Meyer HISTORICAL FICTION Shoshana, her mom, and her siblings flee Jewish persecution in Ukraine in 1905 for North Dakota to a mud house on the plains with her father and brother.  But being Jewish isn’t always accepted, even in this new country. And Shoshana wants to fit in so much that she agrees to participate in the Christmas activities. Ultimately, Shoshana learns (with a little help from her sister Libke) to be proud of being Jewish, even when others don’t accept her. Stunning writing with a loveable main character makes this a middle grade book that you won’t want to miss.

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman REALISTIC Set in India, Viji writes this story as letters to you, her little sister Rukku who has intellectual disabilities. Viji tells how the two of them ran away from an abusive father to the big city where they met two friendly brothers and lived with them under a bridge, scrabbling to survive by collecting trash. Their lives are hard but made easier by the two boys, their new “brothers.” When Rukku gets a terrible cough and fever, so does one of the brothers. And what happens next almost destroys Viji. Ultimately, it is the kindness of her new “family” that helps her to see more than misery in the world. It’s an honest, eye-opening story that reveals the plight of many homeless children in India and yet, finds a way to be hopeful, too.

Booked  by Kwame Alexander REALISTIC Alexander skillfully writes about the teenage human condition — he just gets it!  12-year old Nick struggles with his parents’ separation, a school bully, and the awkwardness of a first crush.  The only thing that feels right is soccer. That is until he gets injured and can’t play. Written in free verse, this is a lyrical, fast-paced story that feels honest and relatable.

Wink  by Rob Harrell REALISTIC / CANCER A funny cancer memoir for kids who like humorous but emotion-filled stories.  When Ross is diagnosed with a rare kind of tumor, he immediately starts radiation treatment. His eye is goopy, he has to wear a hat, and his hair starts falling out in clumps– made funny with his cartoon drawings. A goofy, kind-hearted radiation tech gets Ross interested in alternative punk music, and in order to impress a girl, Ross asks the tech for guitar lessons. Turns out, the guitar and his new music, help Ross both express his frustrations and find his joy, leading to some surprising results.

Not an E asy Win  by Chrystal B. Giles REALISTIC Lawrence has been beaten up by a group of bullies, blamed for the fighting, and kicked out of the mostly-white school. His Granny tells him he can’t stick around the house. A kind, older neighbor takes Lawrence to his work at the local rec center where Lawrence helps out while doing online school and learning to play chess. P Through the wisdom of his neighbor and learning to focus on chess, Lawrence finds purpose and inner fortitude that leads to his success in life and in chess.  

Before the Ever After   by Jacqueline Woodson REALISTIC / VERSE Written in verse with precise text, this is an important book to bring awareness to CTE as well as show families in grief.  ZJ’s professional football player dad is changing. He’s stopped playing, gets terrible headaches, surprising anger outbursts, and forgets ZJ’s name. ZJ contrasts this with memories of his dad before the ever after; the before dad who played with ZJ, made him breakfast, and treated his friends like family. Now, there are a lot of doctor’s appointments and not much hope. It’s real, raw, and profoundly sad to watch ZJ slowly lose the dad he once knew. 

Invisible  by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, illustrated by Gabriela Epstein REALISTIC  /GRAPHIC NOVEL Spanish-speaking kids are thrown together to complete before-school community service hours. When the kids notice the  homeless mom and her child living  in a van, they try to help with leftover food. But they get into trouble with the mean cafeteria lady who thinks they’re stealing and watches them like they’re delinquents.  This is a story about kindness, racism, differences, and marginalized individuals — both non-English speakers and homeless individuals.  It’s excellent, and I love the Spanish dialogue written first with English-translated text second.

Violets Are Blue  by Barbara Dee  REALISTIC  /  DIVORCE  / ADDICTION Wren’s mom is skipping work, sleeping more, and not eating. Despite her mom’s strange behavior, Wren finds purpose in doing special FX makeup. At school, her new friends convince her to do the makeup for the school musical, Wicked. Then, her mom’s situation reaches a breaking point and Wren discovers the secret her mom’s been keeping — she has an opioid addiction. As usual,  Dee writes about difficult topics, in this case, addiction and divorce, in a compelling, relatable story with complex, sympathetic characters, and an interesting plot.

Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks  by Jason Reynolds REALISTIC (SHORT) Ten  short stories tell about the lives of different kids after their middle school  day ends. With complex backstories and incredible depth of character development, Reynold’s fiction feels truthful… so much so that I’m so very glad that I’m not in  middle school  anymore. What kinds of topics are these kids dealing with? Bullying , fear of dogs, parents who have cancer, stealing, comedian goals, OCD, skateboarding, and friendships. Some stories are funny, some are serious, and all ring true.

Snow White: A Graphic Novel by Matt Phelan GRAPHIC NOVEL / FAIRY TALE In this reimagined Snow White story, set in New York City in the 1920s, Snow White’s dad is a Wall Street king, her stepmother is a Zigfield Follies star, and her seven small protectors are street kids. It’s SO interesting how Phelan uses this historical setting to animate a familiar fairy tale. The black and white illustrations set the tone for this dark story with a happy ending

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Danger and Other Unknown Risks by Ryan North and Erica Henderson review by Jemma Taylor ADVENTURE / GRAPHIC NOVEL This book is genuinely one of my new favorite graphic novels EVER. The world collapsed on New Year’s Day of the year 2000, but not because of technology; because magic became real. Billions died, electricity became a thing of the past, and everyone had to rebuild their lives in the new post-apocalyptic society. Everything sucks, but Marguerite is the chosen one who will save the world. (Or is she?) With visually stunning art, a creative setting, and a fantastic story, I cannot recommend this book enough.

Night Raven: The Moonwind Mysteries written by Johan Rundberg, translated by A.A. Prime HISTORICAL MYSTERY An excellent, page-turning mystery set in 1880s Sweden about an orphan girl named Mika whose survival skills include an eye for detail, connections, and deductions! After an abandoned baby is dropped into her arms in the middle of the night, a police detective recruits her to assist him in identifying a dead body and then investigating a prison cell — all in pursuit of a copycat serial killer. But Mika realizes it’s not a copycat. In a dangerous game of cat and mouse, she and the detective need to avoid the corrupt prison officials and the serial killer. This observant heroine is my favorite kind — resourceful, aspirational, and interesting. I can’t wait for more books in the series. (Sensitive readers: Includes the word cr*p.)

Sweep  by Jonathan Auxier HISTORICAL MAGICAL REALISM Set in Victorian London, this is a beautiful, bittersweet story about a plucky girl and her protector  golem .   When another sweep tries to burn Nan alive, a charcoal golem emerges to save her life. She and her protector golem find a new place to live but must stay vigilant so her old master doesn’t find them. On their own, they are helped by a street boy and a kind Jewish teacher. This is an irresistible story that will expand your heart.

Boy, Everywhere  by A.M. Dassu IMMIGRATION Sami’s family flees from modern Syrian life to detention in England and a new home in England with hateful relatives.  We feel Sami’s emotions every step of this journey — from thinking about playing  video games  and soccer to his worry about capsizing in an overcrowded boat in the ocean and to blaming himself for his mom and sister being at the mall when it was bombed. In sharing his experiences, readers will see how much they can relate to Sami who is just a regular kid trying to be safe.

Mockingbir d  by Kathryn Erskine REALISTIC Caitlin’s brother Devon is killed in a school shooting, leaving Caitlin, who has Aspergers, to make sense of the world on her own, without his compassionate and understanding guidance.  Her father isn’t helpful, he’s lost in his grief. So when Caitlin reads about grief and closure, she decides to go after closure in a literal, hands-on way. And it will help both her and her father build their relationship and let go of Devon. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read — so powerful and honest.

The School for Good and Evil   by Soman Chainani FANTASY Two girls are selected to attend the school for villains and school for heroes. Only all your stereotypes will be blown out of the water with which girl goes where.  This book series for 12 year olds will make you think deeply about what makes someone good, friendship, and love.    Boxed Set HERE .

Book Lists By Age

Easy Reader Books for 5- and 6- year olds  Beginning / Easy Chapter Books for 6- and 7- Year Olds Books for 3rd graders, 8-year olds Books for 4th graders, 9-year olds Books for 5th graders, 10-year olds Books for 6th graders, 11-year olds Books for 7th graders, 12-year olds YA Books

Book Lists By Genre

Adventure Books for Kids Fantasy Books for Kids Funny Books for Kids Historical Fiction Books for Kids Mystery Books for Kids Nonfiction Books for Kids Realistic Books for Kids Science Fiction Books for Kids ALL Picture Book Reviews

Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

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27 Comments

Thanks for this great list! Have you read My Life As A Potato? It’s a fun one for this age too.

I have seen it but not read it. Sounds like I should! Thanks, Kim!

I love reading so much! I have not seen a majority of these books. I feel that it is has a great variety of books listed. I can’t wait to read these!

I hope you find lots of books that you love!

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

FREE Book Bracket Template. For March and Beyond!

25 Best New Books for 7th Graders

We’re going to need a bigger bookmark.

Seventh grade is one of my favorite grades.

It’s the best of both worlds, middle school speaking. Students are “so past” the babyish immaturity of 6th graders, but not quite as jaded as their 8th grade counterparts. They’re too cool for the kind of silliness that totally derails class, but aren’t too cool for games or stickers. They’re just dipping their toes into who they are and their place in the world. And they’re (unfortunately for those of us who teach them and have to keep a straight face) hilarious.

The last year has seen a fantastic crop of books for this age, and our list is the perfect starting point for a 7th grade classroom or a 7th grader you know and love. While there are great lessons to be learned in each of these books, make sure to preview them before assigning or recommending them to ensure they’re a good fit for your kids.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1. The Moth Keeper by K. O’Neill

Anya protects the lunar moths that keep her village thriving. But what happens when being a moth-keeper isn’t all she thought it would be? Seventh graders will love this gorgeous graphic novel and the world K. O’Neill builds within it.

Buy it: T he Moth Keeper on Amazon

2. Finally Seen by Kelly Yang

Lina Gao is finally joining her parents and sister in America after five long years of being separated. But so far life in America isn’t turning out to be what she thought: at school, at home, or anywhere in between. A story about courage, resilience, and high-achieving little sisters (ugh), Finally Seen will be a welcome addition to any classroom library.

Buy it: Finally Seen on Amazon

3. The Superteacher Project by Gordon Korman

What if you found out your teacher was an AI robot from a top-secret experimental project? For Oliver Zahn, that question is about to become a reality. Seventh graders will love getting to the bottom of this hilarious, mysterious story.

Buy it: The Superteacher Project on Amazon

4. The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh

So far, the pandemic is leading to a lot of stress and isolation for 13-year-old Matthew, who is dealing with big shifts in his family. But when he finds a clue in an old black-and-white photograph, he will learn that his family’s past contains a shocking story of strength and resilience from the Holodomor, the famine that killed millions of Ukrainians in the 1930s and was covered up for decades. This book, called “the resistance novel for our times” by the New York Times, will hook your 7th graders from the first chapter.

Buy it: The Lost Year on Amazon

5. The Town With No Mirrors by Christina Collins

At first glance, the town of Gladder Hill seems like a utopia. Everyone seems happy in this town that has outlawed cameras and mirrors. But when Zailey is determined to see her face for the first time, she unlocks a world of knowledge that might unravel the history of her town and herself. Ask your 7th graders, “What would life be like if we didn’t have cameras or mirrors?” and they’ll be fully committed to find out what happens in this book.

Buy it: The Town With No Mirrors on Amazon

6. The Paper Daughters of Chinatown by Heather B. Moore and Allison Hong Merrill

When Tai Choi is sold into slavery to pay for her father’s gambling debts, she is forced into a new life of huge change and hardship. She goes from Tai Choi to Tien Fu Wu, the name forged on her immigration papers, and from her home in the Zhejiang province of China to San Francisco. She is rescued from her life of servitude, but how can she trust her new friendship? Heather B. Moore and Allison Hong Merrill adapted a true story to this powerful, moving story for young readers that 7th graders (and their teachers) won’t be able to put down.

Buy it: The Paper Daughters of Chinatown on Amazon

7. Lolo’s Light by Liz Garton Scanlon

Grief. Guilt. Death. You might be tempted to think these are topics a middle school audience isn’t ready for, and yet these are topics middle schoolers are already facing . This is the story of Lolo, a main character 7th graders will love, who encounters an unavoidable tragedy when babysitting her neighbor’s child. Walking through Lolo’s thoughts, emotions, and responses offers 7th graders the opportunity to have important conversations about grief and death, but also about redemption and life.

Buy it: Lolo’s Light on Amazon

8. A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

From the author of Other Words for Home , A Rover’s Story is a powerful tale told from the point of view of Resilience, a Mars rover. Res was made to explore Mars, but will he be able to conquer the harsh terrain of this new planet, or disappoint the legions of people watching his journey back home? (A note for teachers: A Rover’s Story is fantastic for teaching character development and point of view.)

Buy it: A Rover’s Story on Amazon

9. Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

Chet, Kaori, Virgil, and Valencia couldn’t be more different. In fact, one of the only things bringing them together is that they live in the same neighborhood. But all of that is about to change when a prank puts Virgil and his guinea pig’s life in danger. All at once, he’ll need the intelligence, courage, and a little cosmic fairy dust from his neighborhood gang.

Buy it: Hello, Universe on Amazon

10. Life Skills for Tweens by Ferne Bowe

There is one in every class. OK, there are several in every class: the kids who would rather watch informational TikToks than look at scores of memes. Kids who eschew fantasy and sci-fi with “Why would I want to read about something that isn’t real?” Life Skills for Tweens is perfect for those knowledge-hungry realists, with how-tos on everything from communication and self-regulation skills to keeping calm in emergencies.

Buy it: Life Skills for Tweens on Amazon

11. Calling the Moon: 16 Period Stories From BIPOC Authors, an anthology edited by Aida Salazar and Saied Méndez

If you’re watching Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret this summer, this anthology with 16 short stories about menstruation is a perfect companion. Written by authors who are Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color, Calling the Moon showcases coming-of-age stories that range from hilarious to heartrending, helping readers understand they’re not alone in the period wilderness.

Buy it: Calling the Moon on Amazon

12. As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

To stay and fight for a country you love or escape and survive? This speculative novel about the Syrian Revolution will have 7th graders hanging on Katouh’s every word. Something to note: Fans of The Book Thief will love As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow , particularly the way fear is personified as Salama’s companion Khawf.

Buy it: As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow on Amazon

13. Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho

Kat Cho has done it. First, she has taken the secret dream of so many teenagers and written it down in book form: What if a K-pop star asked you to prom? Then, she has horrified legions of K-pop fans with: What if you’re not sure you want to go? Once Upon a K-Prom is fun and funny, and it’s one of those books that will entertain your 7th graders’ inner fanfolks.

Buy it: Once Upon a K-Prom on Amazon

14. Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo

Sue can’t wait to go to summer camp with her friends and make comics all day. So when her family announces they’re going to visit relatives in a remote area of Honduras with no cell service or Internet and they’re throwing her a surprise quinceañera complete with giant fluffy dress, she wonders if it’s humanly possible for her life to get worse. Kat Fajardo’s debut graphic novel is a hilarious journey about family, tradition, and self-discovery, perfect for middle schoolers.

Buy it: Miss Quinces on Amazon

15. Azar on Fire by Olivia Abtahi

After a condition in infancy damaged her vocal chords, Azar has decided to stay silent in high school. But when she hears about a local Battle of the Bands concert, she can’t resist—will she end up speaking to her crush to convince him to sing vocals, or miss out on a dream altogether? If you’re looking for books for 7th graders who love both music and feisty main characters, try Azar on Fire .

Buy it: Azar on Fire on Amazon

16. Camp QUILTBAG by Nicole Melleby

Twelve-year-old Abigail can’t wait to go to the inclusive camp for queer and trans kids, Camp QUILTBAG. Thirteen-year-old Kai is … not excited to be there. After a rocky start, the two make a pact to help each other in navigating camp life—will it end in success or disaster? We’re grateful for Nicole Melleby’s work in making sure all kids are represented in literature .

Buy it: Camp QUILTBAG on Amazon

17. The Track Series by Jason Reynolds

Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu ended up on the same elite track team together. However, they’re worlds apart in terms of pretty much everything else. Seventh graders will love this series—each is told from a different character’s perspective—and teachers will love the insights that happen when reading the same story from a different perspective.

Buy it: The Track Series on Amazon

18. This Is How I Roll by Debbi Michiko Florence

Your sushi-loving 7th graders (and even those who blanche at raw fish) will love this story about Susannah Mikami. Susannah dreams of being a famous sushi chef like her father, but he won’t teach her his skills (and won’t say why). Suddenly, cute Koji rolls around and offers to film her skills and share them with the world. Will she lie to her parents or go after her dreams?

Buy it: This Is How I Roll on Amazon

19. Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

Simon O’Keefe is a funny kid with a seriously quirky family. But his life turns upside down when he is the lone survivor of a school shooting. He and his family move to the National Quiet Zone, the only place in America where the Internet is banned. Instead of journalists hounding him to talk about the incident, the NQZ is full of astronomers using the quiet to look for signs of life in space. What if Simon finds it? This review speaks to where the book meets 7th graders: “Blunt as trauma, delicate as healing, and hilarious and tragic as middle school can be. This book is as close to everything as one book can be.”—Kyle Lukoff, Newbery Honor–winning author of Too Bright to See 

Buy it: Simon Sort of Says on Amazon

20. Izzy at the End of the World by K.A. Reynolds

For Izzy Wilder, an autistic 14-year-old, losing her mom felt like the end of the world. That is until the world actually ends amid mysterious flashing lights, and Izzy and her dog, Akka, are seemingly the only survivors. Izzy embarks on a journey of regulating her anxiety, interpreting clues for survival that seem like they’re from her mom, and battling some seriously intimidating monsters. If you’re looking for books to hook your 7th graders, give them this nail-biting adventure novel!

Buy it: Izzy at the End of the World on Amazon

21. The House Swap by Yvette Clark

Sometimes you just need a Parent Trap meets The Holiday book, you know? Your 7th graders will love this story of friendship, family, and belonging about Allie and Sage, two girls from across the world who become friends (and confidantes about their family issues) when their families swap houses on vacation.

Buy it: The House Swap on Amazon

22. Not an Easy Win by Chrystal D. Giles

Twelve-year-old Lawrence moved to live with his granny in another city. He then promptly got expelled for a fight that wasn’t his fault. Instead of school, he goes to the rec center where a neighbor is running a chess program. Lawrence has a chance to compete in a chess tournament in his home city. Could this be his ticket home? Whether you’re looking for books for 7th graders who love chess or just love an endearing character, Not an Easy Win is a double check in our book.

Buy it: Not an Easy Win on Amazon

23. Iceberg by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Hold please, while my inner 7th grader screeches with anticipation. OK, thank you. This book follows Hazel Rothbury’s stowaway voyage on the Titanic as she travels to work in a factory to help make ends meet for her family. While exploring the fancy ship in secret, she encounters a mystery—one that only gets more dangerous when disaster strikes on the Titanic . Adventure meets mystery meets survival? I’m just calling it now: This will be one of those books your 7th graders (or your inner 7th grader) will want to reread.

Buy it: Iceberg on Amazon

24. A Bit of Earth by Karuna Riazi

The Secret Garden meets Other Words for Home ? Say no more. To give her a better life, Maria Latif’s parents have sent her from her home in Pakistan to Long Island, New York. Her new life is in many ways not what she expects, the least of all being a secret garden where she feels at home. Peppered with beautiful poetic verses, A Bit of Earth is one of those perfect books for 7th graders to pair with The Secret Garden for a classic/contemporary comparison.

Buy it: A Bit of Earth on Amazon

25. Hamra and the Jungle of Memories by Hanna Alkaf

Haven’t we all gotten mad that our family forgot our birthday and wandered into a forbidden forest? No? OK, maybe just Hamra, the lead character in Hamra and the Jungle of Memories . After breaking every rule of the jungle, Hamra soon discovers she’ll have to embark on the adventure of a lifetime to undo its curse involving mythical beasts, fantastical worlds, and her own courage.

Buy it: Hamra and the Jungle of Memories on Amazon

Love these books for 7th graders? Check out our big list of 50 Refreshing and Relatable Books to Teach in Middle School for even more great books for 7th graders to add to your classroom library.

For more articles like this one, plus tips, tricks, and ideas for teachers,  sign up for our free newsletters ., you might also like.

50 Refreshing and Relatable Books To Teach in Middle School

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50 Must-Read Books for Seventh Graders

by AuthorAmy

Welcome to Amy’s Bookshelf! Here, teachers will find carefully curated book lists for each grade level from kindergarten to twelfth grade. Moving forward, new lists filled with book recommendations will be published weekly. Sometimes, these lists will be organized around a specific theme, like a holiday or seasonal event. Other times, they will feature rockstar books – books practically guaranteed to get your students reading. 

Before jumping into reading recommendations, a few words about how books are selected.

First, it is so important that teachers prioritize reading interest over reading level. Students will often choose to read well above or below their reading level if they are particularly interested in a book or topic. Teachers only hurt students by limiting them to a specific selection of titles grouped according to an arbitrary number or level. Think of the books on these lists as starting places for you and your students, but if a student wants to read up (or down), that is a-ok.

Also, please note that these lists lean heavily toward modern selections as opposed to the classics many teachers are familiar with. A true renaissance is happening in children’s literature today, and the books coming out are truly exciting. One of the factors that makes this such an exciting time for kid lit is how diverse the selections are in terms of genre, characters and subject matter. These lists will feature fiction and nonfiction selection as well as graphic novels, novels written in verse, and more.

Any book list or classroom library worth its salt includes books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters, racially diverse characters, characters with disabilities, characters in the foster care system, characters from a wide variety of socioeconomic and religious backgrounds, and so on. Importantly, the diversity of the characters doesn’t always need to be the focus of the literature – in other words, a book featuring a black character or gay character doesn’t need to be about those individuals exploring their blackness or their gayness; those characters can have kid problems that apply to all children regardless of their race or sexual orientation. Similarly, students should be encouraged to read stories featuring people of diversity all year long – not just during a month set aside to celebrate a specific heritage.

One final note: today’s children’s literature does not shy away from frank discussions of gender, race, sex, sexuality, abuse, mental illness, and more – nor should it. I will not censor books from these lists based on these controversial areas. What books you recommend will depend on the specific district you work in and your clientele. I encourage you and your students to read widely without fear.

Seventh Grade

Seventh grade is a time of growing pains for many students, a time of growing up and sometimes growing apart from friends. It’s a time of forging one’s own path and finding your own way in the world. Middle grade fiction, especially novels, tends to reflect this transition time in children’s lives. 

by Raina Telgemeier

Get it  HERE .

In this graphic novel sequel to Smile, Raina can’t wait to be a big sister, until her little sister is actually born and she realizes that babies aren’t a lot of fun. Over the years, they learn to stick together and stand up for each other.  

2. I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark

by Debbie Levy and illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley

Another picture book biography, this time about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This particular biography tells Gindburg’s story through her many famous dissents. 

3. The Giver by Lois Lowry 

On the day Life Assignments are given out, 12-year-old Jonas is selected as his community’s next Receiver of Memory in this famous dystopian story. This is a must read. Author Lois Lowry has written three companion novels to The Giver. 

4. The Fourteenth Goldfish

by Jennifer L. Holm 

Ellie likes her life and hates change. One day, a new kid shows up in school, and he reminds Ellie an awful lot of her grandfather…her grandfather who has always been obsessed with immortality. 

5. A Snicker of Magic

by Natalie Lloyd 

Felicity and her family move to the town of Midnight Gulch for her mother’s new job, but Felicity doesn’t trust that it will last long. Her mother is cursed with a wandering heart, after all.  But Felicity soon learns that Midnight Gulch was once a magical place until a curse drove away all the magic. She starts to think that, if she can get the magic to return, maybe her mother will finally settle down, too. 

6. The Invention of Hugo Cabret

by Brian Selznick

Don’t let students be intimidated by the 500+ pages in this book, Hugo Cabret is a wonder. It’s part graphic novel, part text, and a whole lot of wonder. Hugo survives as an orphan on the streets of London by helping wind an old clock and through thieving. All of this changes and Hugo’s secrets threaten to come spilling out when he crosses paths with an old toy shop owner. 

7. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park 

The Sudanese water crisis is told through two perspectives – that of Nya, a Sudanese girl in 2008 who walks two hours to retrieve water, and Salva, in 1985, who becomes one of the lost boys of Sudan. This is based on a true story and is extremely powerful. 

8. Inside Out and Back Again

by Thanhha Lai

Hà loves her home in Vietnam, but when the Vietnam War reaches Saigon, her family boards a ship headed for the United States. Hà tells her story in verse, and it is based on the author’s childhood. 

9. The Girl Who Drank the Moon

by Kelly Barnhill 

The witch in the forest, Xan, is kind, but the people of the Protectorate don’t know this. They leave her an offering each year – an offering of a child. Xan takes the children and places them with adoptive families in a neighboring town. One year, Xan decides to keep a child and raise her as her own. This child is Luna, and as Luna turns 13, her magic starts to unfold while a man from the Protectorate is on a mission to kill the witch and free his people. 

by Pam Munoz Ryan 

Echo is very impressive middle grade magical realism. This is the story of three children who are connected by a magic harmonica in the World War II era. It’s hard to put down. 

11. Amal Unbound

by Aisha Saeed 

A young Pakastani girl, Amal, is forced into indentured servitude by her village’s corrupt landlord. Amal is determined to make sure her dreams aren’t dashed in the process. 

12. Playing Atari With Saddam Hussein by Jennifer Roy with Ali Fadhil 

Ali Fadhil is 11 years old in 1991 when Saddam Hussein goes to war with the United States. Ali’s father is a medic and is sent to war. The family spends the duration of the war trying to survive.

13. 14 Hollow Road

by Jenn Bishop 

Maddie’s sixth grade dance is abruptly ended  when a tornado races through her town, destroying her family’s home and the home of her crush, Avery. A neighbor opens their home to both Maddie and Avery’s families, and suddenly, Maddie is spending the summer living with the boy she likes. 

14. All’s Faire in Middle School

by Victoria Jamieson 

Imogene, or Impy, has been homeschooled by her two parents who work at a renaissance fair. She is convinced she has what it takes to be brave like a knight, and her noble quest is enrolling in public school, just in time to try to survive middle school. 

15. Death on the River of Doubt: Teddy Roosevelt’s Amazon Adventure by Samantha Seiple

Theodore Roosevelt and his two sons were given the opportunity to map an uncharted river in the Amazon jungle in 1913. They faced many dangers, and this is a really engaging account of that journey. 

16. A Dog in the Cave: The Wolves Who Made Us Human by Kay Frydenborg

This is a really unique nonfiction book for the middle school set. Most middle grade nonfiction is encyclopedic in nature, whereas this is a novel-length science text telling the story of man’s domestication of wolves, and the ways that those early canines influenced our evolution, too. 

17. American Pharoah: Triple Crown Champion by Shelley Fraser Mickle

This is the life story of American Pharoah, the horse that won the Triple Crown in 2015. The story goes into great detail about the horse himself as well as the trainers, breeders, and jockey who were a part of his team. 

18. Well, That Was Awkward by Rachel Vail 

Gracie likes A.J., but A.J. likes her best friend Sienna. So Gracie plays Horatio for Sienna, writing texts to A.J. for her, all the while assuring herself that she’s just fine with the arrangement. 

19. Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life

by Wendy Mass

Right before Jeremy’s thirteenth birthday, a mysterious box arrives in the mail. A letter proclaims that this box holds the meaning of life for Jeremy but the key is missing. Jeremy sets off with his best friend to find the key and open the box. 

20. Hello Universe

by Erin Entrada Kelly 

Chet Bullins pulls a prank gone wrong and shy Virgil Salinas ends up at the bottom of a well with his pet guinea pig. When three other kids, Valencia, Gen, and Kaori, realize Virgil is missing, they set out to find him. 

21. Dead End in Norvelt

by Jack Gantos

Jack Gantos is grounded for life. His mom assigns him to a local neighbor to help type obituaries for the iconic people in his town. A mystery begins to unfold as Jack notices some unusual details in the obituaries that start painting a bigger picture of intrigue.   

22. The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle

by Janet Fox 

Kat and her brother are sent to a Scottish moor to escape the bombing of London. They wind up at Rookskill Castle and are quite convinced the castle is haunted – or worse. 

23. Under the Mesquite

by Guadalupe Garcia McCall 

Lupita’s Mami is diagnosed with cancer, and Lupita abandons her adolescent worries to do everything she can to save Mami’s life. This includes babysitting her seven younger siblings. This is a gorgeous coming-of-age story written in verse. 

24. All the Broken Pieces

by Ann E. Burg

Matt Pin was airlifted from his war-torn home in Vietnam and adopted by a family in the United States. This novel in verse is a story of healing as Matt faces fears, uncertainty, and prejudice in his new home. 

25. Inkheart

by Cornelia Funke

Meggie’s father reads her a bedtime story and accidentally releases a villian into the real world. Meggie must stop him. This is the first in a trilogy. 

26. Trudy’s Big Swim: How Gertrude Ederle Swam the English Channel and Took the World

by Storm written by Sue Macy and illustrated by Matt Collins

Yet another incredible picture book biography, this one about Gertrude Ederle who became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Really excellent back matter gives more biographical information than the story itself. 

27. Wolf Hollow

by Lauren Wolk

Annabelle recognizes a bully as soon as Betty Glengarry moves to town. Betty’s bullying soon makes reclusive neighbor Toby, a friend of Annabelle’s, a target. She determines she will put a stop to Betty. 

28. The Golden Compass

by Philip Pullman

Orphan Lyra Belacqua lives a happy life among the scholars of Jordan College until one day her uncle, Lord Asriel visits the college along with Mrs. Coulter. Both adults seem to hold the key to the epidemic of children who have been disappearing lately. This is the first in a bestselling trilogy that warns about the corrupting power of religion (and is thus controversial and often challenged). 

29. Among the Hidden

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

This dystopian novel imagines a world where parents are only allowed two children. Luke is a third, a shadow child, and he lives his life in hiding. This is the first book in the Shadow Children series. 

30. She Loves You: Yeah, Yeah, Yeah by Ann Hood

Trudy Mixer is 12 years old and life is pretty rough. Her beloved Beatles fan club is down to three of the least popular kids in the school. Trudy sets out to see The Beatles when they come to Boston, quite the feat for a middle schooler living in Rhode Island. 

31. The Length of a String

by Elissa Brent Weissman

Imani, who is adopted, decides she is finally ready to find her birth parents. Her search turns inward when her great-grandmother passes away and Imani finds her diary, which details her fleeing from the Nazi regime. 

32. Marabel and the Book of Fate

by Tracy Barrett

Princess Marabel has lived in the shadow of her twin brother, Marco, her whole life. But on their thirteenth birthday, Marco is kidnapped and Marabel has a chance to save the day. 

33. Squirrel Power: Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 1

by North Henderson 

Doreen Green is a friend of Tony Stark, and like most of Stark’s friends, she has a superhero alter ego as Squirrel Girl. She is a college student by day and crime-fighting superhero at night. This is the first of five volumes. 

34. The Inventors at No. 8 by A.M. Morgen

George is an orphan, and when he finds out that his family heirloom, a map to the Star of Victory, has been stolen, it’s the last straw. He sets out, along with Ada Lovelace, to get the map back. 

35. Rising Above: Inspiring Women in Sports

by Gregory Zuckerman with Gabriel and Elijah Zuckerman

The women profiled in this nonfiction book are household names – Simone Biles, Venus and Serena Williams, and so many more. This is a collection of biographies of women athletes who overcame tremendous obstacles to rise to the top in their sports. 

36. The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden 

This book tackles difficult issues like the gun debate and domestic violence through the eyes of Zoey. Zoey, her siblings, and her mom live with Lenny in the most comfortable home they’ve ever known. When Zoey is asked to join the debate team, she starts noticing things through different eyes and finds a voice to speak up. 

by Barbara O’Connor

Charlie does not know what it means to have a “put together” family. She is sent to live in the Blue Ridge Mountains with her aunt and uncle. Here, she meets a stray dog christened Wishbone and meets Howard, who becomes her close friend. This book deals heavily with the theme of abandoned children, making it a read that is at time difficult. 

by John David Anderson 

Cell phones are banned from Branton Middle School, so the kids must resort to leaving old-fashioned notes for each other in the form of sticky notes left around the school. This book looks at the power of words to hurt and to heal. 

39. One Shadow on the Wall

by Leah Henderson 

Mor made a promise to his father on his father’s death bed – to keep his sisters safe and keep the family together. Yet, try as he might, the pressures of these promises seem to great for an 11 year old. This novel’s back drop is modern-day Senegal. 

40. Amina’s Voice

by Hena Kahn 

Amina, a Pakistani-American girl, faces all the usual pressures of middle school. Her best friend starts talking about changing her name to something more American and Amina starts grappling with her identity. Meanwhile, a neighborhood mosque is vandalized in a hate crime. 

41. Wild Bird

by Wendelin Van Draanen

Wren is enrolled in a survivalist wilderness therapy class after her parents don’t know how to handle her anymore. She arrives at camp bitter and angry, but during her eight-week stay in the wild, she finds redemption. 

42. The Cat Ate My Gymsuit

by Paula Danziger

Marcy finds her life pretty boring. School is stupid. Her dad verbally abuses her and her mother. But when Ms. Finney becomes Marcy’s English teacher and actually treats her like a person, Marcy checks back into life. 

43. Ninth Ward

by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Ninth Ward is about a 12-yera-old girl who lives through Hurricane Katrina with her family and friends in New Orleans. It does a nice job contextualizing and explaining the natural disaster to children. 

44. See You in the Cosmos

by Jack Cheng 

Alex’s hero is astronomer Carl Sagan. Sagan launched his Golden Record into space and Alex dreams of doing the same with an iPod containing his podcast.

45. The Friendship Experiment

by Erin Teagan 

Madeline Little wants to be a scientist, and she doesn’t have time for the fun and games of other kids her age. She doesn’t want to start middle school, she just wants to run experiments in her father’s lab. 

46. Front Desk

by Kelly Yang

Mia’s family lives in a motel. Her parents, immigrants themselves, secretly hide away other immigrants in empty motel rooms, putting the whole family at risk. On top of that, Mia dreams of being a writer, though her first language isn’t English and her mother suggests she sticks to math. She’s in for a tough year!

47. Forever or a Long, Long Time

by Caela Carter

Siblings Flora and Julian don’t trust the foster care system that has shuttled them from home to home, and they certainly don’t trust their adoptive parents. With the help of their new mom, the two siblings research their past so they can learn to trust again. 

48. Navigating Early

by Clare Vanderpool

Jack and Early are friends at a boys’ boarding school in Maine. During a school break, they set out to hike the Appalachian Trail searching for a black bear. This story is their odyssey, as they meet new friends (and enemies) and learn about themselves in the process. 

49. York by Laura Ruby 

In this alternate history, the Morningstar Twins helped build New York City into the city it is today. The twins disappeared, leaving the Old York Cipher behind them, a puzzle constructed by the architects that no one has been able to solve – until, that is, three modern-day kids band together to see if they can crack the code.

50. Denis Ever After

by Tony Abbott

Denis died seven years ago and has been stuck in limbo ever since, because his twin brother Matt cannot let him go. Denis goes back to help Matt uncover the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death so that he and his family can be at peace. 

Other book lists from Amy’s bookshelf you’ll love: 

• 50 Must-Read Books for Kindergarteners
• 50 Must-Read Books For First Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Second Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books For Third Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Fourth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books For Fifth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books For Sixth Graders

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Best Books for 7th Graders

Check out the standout books for 7th graders, aggregated from top literary sources. these selections are the most mentioned and recommended across respected publications..

Middle Grade Magic: Great Books for 7th Graders

Ashlie Swicker

Ashlie (she/her) is an educator, librarian, and writer. She is committed to diversifying the reading lives of her students and supporting fat acceptance as it intersects with other women’s issues. She's also perpetually striving to learn more about how she can use her many privileges to support marginalized groups. Interests include learning how to roller skate with her local roller derby team, buying more books than she'll ever read, hiking with her husband and sons, and making lists to avoid real work. You can find her on Instagram (@ashlieelizabeth), Twitter (@mygirlsimple) or at her website, www.ashlieswicker.com.

View All posts by Ashlie Swicker

With most schools and libraries closed across the country closed, parents are left scrambling in a lot of ways: distance learning, social opportunities, and summer reading come to mind. Here is one thing you can cross off the list—below is a curated list of great books for 7th graders. Whether your middle schooler is looking to get lost in a fantasy or stay on top of recent award winners, there are some recs to try! (Pro tip: most of these are also excellent read-alouds for younger kiddos, and I’m an adult librarian who enjoyed them immensely, too!)

Classic Books for 7th Graders

Running out of time by margaret peterson haddix.

This book, which was ruthlessly ripped off in the movie The Village , opens with a young girl finding out that her colonial-era life is an elaborate charade for a tourist destination and she is actually living in the ’90s. It gets even better from there.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

A classic for a reason—amazing quotes, spunky female main character, sci-fi magic. Join Meg, Calvin, and her little brother Charles Wallace as they travel across time to rescue her father. The graphic novel version is absolutely amazing, as well.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

A companion piece to A Wrinkle in Time set in the late ’70s, it offers everything from familiar adolescent growing pains to magically beautiful time travel. This book is hauntingly beautiful and very typical, a rare gem.

Graphic Novels for 7th Graders

Sheets by brenna thummler.

A ghostly graphic novel without a single scare, this sweet and sad story is complimented by a soft blue color palate.

Princess Princess Ever After by Katie O’Neil

This awesome story destroys gender roles during a fun fantasy romp. Katie O’Neil is a favorite among my 5th grade students and the art is breathtaking.

Hey Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka

My students love graphic novels that tell family stories, and Hey Kiddo does not disappoint; this graphic memoir includes photographs and artifacts from the author’s life and has struck a chord with many.

Fantasy Books for 7th Graders

Aru shah and the end of time by roshani chokshi.

One of the amazing books from Rick Riordan’s imprint, the Aru Shah series is a family FAVORITE at my house. Fun, exciting, full of Hindu mythology presented with a fresh, modern spin…each new character quickly becomes beloved and most will make you laugh out loud at least once.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

As lush and gorgeous as the title, this fantasy has a classic feel: forest witches, tiny dragons, eating starlight, missions to save the village, and dangerous/exciting spikes of magic.

Books Set At School for 7th Graders

Star-crossed by barbara dee.

The best books are set against the backdrop of school plays, and Star Crossed is set in a production of Romeo and Juliet . Mattie is smitten with the lead playing Juliet, and also her longtime crush Elijah. Her romantic feelings play out as the highs and lows of a middle school Shakespearean production surge. Empowering and sweet.

The Best At It by Maulik Pancholy

Rahul, a gay Indian American boy, experiences highs and lows while navigating middle school with his grandfather’s advice ringing in his ears: find one thing you’re good at, and become the BEST at it. Praises sung over the representation of the roller coaster that is middle school.

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake

Ivy Aberdeen has been through a literal tornado: her family is displaced, she feels ignored, and the worst thing of all is that her secret drawings of girls holding hands with girls is missing. Soon she starts getting messages in her locker, encouraging her to open up about who she is. Is it the girl she has a crush on?

Award-Winning Books for 7th Graders

Sal and gabi break the universe by carlos hernandez.

Incredibly strong characters, unique family structures, science fiction wonder, slight-of-hand magic, parallel universes, grief and mourning…all against the backdrop of the typical middle school struggles. This was an absolute joy to read.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

This book plunges you quickly into duel tragedies—a school bus accident that tortures Tristan, and the ruined world of Alke, where something sinister is destroying the settings of treasured African American folk tales. About the power of the stories we’re living and the ones we tell ourselves.

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Mia is a young girl helping her parents run a motel. As Chinese immigrants, the family sees enormous employment discrimination, both towards themselves and their community…until they start to take matters into their own hands.

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Seventh grader Jerry loves comics and longs to go to art school, but instead his family sends him to a private school outside of his neighborhood, where he is one of the only kids of color. New Kid follows Jerry as he navigates his school life, his old friends, and the confusion of being a middle schooler in general.

Books About Awesome Kids for 7th Graders

The vanderbeekers of 141st street by karina yan glaser.

Set at Christmas, a winning family story about a group of kids determined to convince their grumpy landlord to renew their lease. The Vanderbeekers will work their way quickly into your heart.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World by Dean Hale and Shannon Hale

No one is better than Doreen Green, age 13. This was a DELIGHTFUL audio listen, with excellent characters and lots of Avengers tie ins to please everyone. Squirrels, super powers, an amazing teenaged girl, and some pretty supportive parents, which is always a bonus.

Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy

Patricia “Sweet Pea” DiMarco is dealing with a lot: divorced parents, an ex–best friend, and the general turmoil of growing up. When her neighbor, an advice columnist, asks Sweet Pea to forward her letters while on vacation, Sweet Pea recognizes the handwriting on one of the letters, and what happens next will change Sweet Pea (and all in her circle) forever!

Nonfiction Books for 7th Graders

Rad girls can: stories of bold, brave, and brilliant young women by kate schatz and miriam klein stahl.

Profiles of amazing girls who have changed the world, with stunning papercut illustrations. Perfect for dipping in and out while learning about awesome history.

Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian Football Team by Steve Shenkin

Tackling (no pun intended) both American football history and the horrible, continuing history of the U.S. government’s treatment of Native Americans and their erasure of American Indian culture. A sports underdog story that will draw even reluctant readers.

Hopefully you can find some books for the 7th graders in your life in this list. The bonus is that several of these have great sequels or start a series. Looking for more magic? Check out this list of graphic novels for middle schoolers . Happy reading!

You Might Also Like

• Books for 1-Year-Olds
• Books for 2-Year-Olds
• Books for 3-Year-Olds
• Books for 4-Year-Olds
• Books for 5-Year-Olds
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• Books for 7-Year-Olds
• Books for 8-Year-Olds
• Books for 9-Year-Olds
• Books for 10-Year-Olds
• Books for 11-Year-Olds
• Books for 12-Year-Olds
• Books for 13-Year-Olds
• Preschool Books
• Kindergarten Books
• Books for 1st Grade
• Books for 2nd Grade
• Books for 3rd Grade
• Books for 4th Grade
• Books for 5th Grade
• Books for 6th Grade
• Books for 7th Grade
• Books for 8th Grade
• Books for 9th Grade
• Early Picture Books
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The Best Books for Seventh Graders

Middle school comes with a whole slew of learning and developmental milestones. Reading-wise, your seventh grader’s new capacity for longer dialogue and more complicated narratives opens up all sorts of possibilities in stories. They’ll develop greater problem solving skills, expand their vocabulary, and begin to connect what they read to personal experiences. 

Fantastic books for seventh graders can be found in various genres and formats, but with so much to choose from, it can be hard to distinguish good books from great ones. Now that your reader may be finding the genres they truly love, and taking on an entire series at a time, it’s important to introduce a variety of top-tier choices. Here are some of Literati’s picks for the best books for seventh graders:

Published by DK Children

Every seventh grader needs awesome fiction adventures, but sometimes the most fascinating reads are 100% factual. In this stunning encyclopedia of everything ocean, readers can dive into our planet’s largest and least explored world. From whales, to waves, wrecks, and more, Ocean! is a fact-filled addition to the bookshelf that can answer your reader’s ocean-related questions for years to come.

Middle School Misadventures

by Jason Platt

This graphic novel follows the story of Newell—a middle schooler who doesn’t exactly have it all together. When our clumsy protagonist learns that his only way out of summer school is to enter the Talent Show, it’s going to take a miracle for things to go even ok. This hilarious, relatable main character is perfect for seventh grade readers who might feel a little unsure of themselves while navigating the trials and tribulations of seventh grade.

A Wolf Called Wander

By Rosanne Parry

After a rival wolfpack breaks his family apart, Swift is left to find his way back home—wherever that may be. The only things standing in his way? The treacherous Pacific Northwest coast and the ticking of time. Based on a true story, A Wolf Called Wander will suck your child into its gripping tale of survival and hope. Young readers will pour over each cliffhanger and twist, as well as Rosanne Parry’s detailed sketch illustrations. For the adventurous student, it’s a sure-fire, unputdownable novel.

Escape at 10,000 Feet

by Tom Sullivan

In this installment of the Unsolved Case Files graphic nonfiction series, readers can dive into the riveting true story of D.B. Cooper: the only unsolved hijacking case in U.S. history. The graphic nonfiction format—complete with maps and diagrams—makes this book especially engaging for visual learners, while the minute-by-minute breakdown of events makes this mystery tough to put down, even for reluctant readers. Seventh graders will love digging into the secrets of this unsolved case, while learning to relate true moments in history to the present day.

The Explorer

By Katherine Rundell

This epic survival story will have your seventh grader asking themselves “What would I do if I crash-landed in the Amazon?” Rundell’s book offers readers a fantastic opportunity to fall in love with fiction, thanks to highly immersive descriptions and heightened character complexity. At the same time, introspective moments are perfectly-suited for the seventh grade sensibility, prompting readers to think deeply about complicated situations.

Whether your seventh grader has an endless appetite for books, or is just getting started, the right stories can lead their way to a lifetime of learning. Of course, no two middle schoolers are the same, and those just-right books are going to be very different between readers. Luckily, with Literati book clubs , you never have to worry about choosing perfectly: Literati’s curation expects will do it for you! Start with the quick personalization quiz , and Literati will send your family a curated box of books designed to excite and engage your reader. Our titles are chosen based on your reader’s interests and reading level—books that support and challenge them academically, while instilling a true love of reading.

The Wizard Level Box

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How to Write a Book Report

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

Book Report Fundamentals

Preparing to write, an overview of the book report format, how to write the main body of a book report, how to write a conclusion to a book report, reading comprehension and book reports, book report resources for teachers .

Book reports remain a key educational assessment tool from elementary school through college. Sitting down to close read and critique texts for their content and form is a lifelong skill, one that benefits all of us well beyond our school years. With the help of this guide, you’ll develop your reading comprehension and note-taking skills. You’ll also find resources to guide you through the process of writing a book report, step-by-step, from choosing a book and reading actively to revising your work. Resources for teachers are also included, from creative assignment ideas to sample rubrics.

Book reports follow general rules for composition, yet are distinct from other types of writing assignments. Central to book reports are plot summaries, analyses of characters and themes, and concluding opinions. This format differs from an argumentative essay or critical research paper, in which impartiality and objectivity is encouraged. Differences also exist between book reports and book reviews, who do not share the same intent and audience. Here, you’ll learn the basics of what a book report is and is not.

What Is a Book Report?

"Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

This article, written by a professor emeritus of rhetoric and English, describes the defining characteristics of book reports and offers observations on how they are composed.

"Writing a Book Report" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab outlines the steps in writing a book report, from keeping track of major characters as you read to providing adequate summary material.

"How to Write a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

This article provides another helpful guide to writing a book report, offering suggestions on taking notes and writing an outline before drafting. 

"How to Write a Successful Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

Another post from ThoughtCo., this article highlights the ten steps for book report success. It was written by an academic advisor and college enrollment counselor.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and an Essay?

"Differences Between a Book Report & Essay Writing" ( Classroom)

In this article from the education resource Classroom,  you'll learn the differences and similarities between book reports and essay writing.

"Differences Between a Book Report and Essay Writing" (SeattlePi.com)

In this post from a Seattle newspaper's website, memoirist Christopher Cascio highlights how book report and essay writing differ.

"The Difference Between Essays and Reports" (Solent Online Learning)

This PDF from Southampton Solent University includes a chart demonstrating the differences between essays and reports. Though it is geared toward university students, it will help students of all levels understand the differing purposes of reports and analytical essays.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and a Book Review?

"How to Write a Book Review and a Book Report" (Concordia Univ.)

The library at Concordia University offers this helpful guide to writing book report and book reviews. It defines differences between the two, then presents components that both forms share.

"Book Reviews" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s writing guide shows the step-by-step process of writing book reviews, offering a contrast to the composition of book reports.

Active reading and thoughtful preparation before you begin your book report are necessary components of crafting a successful piece of writing. Here, you’ll find tips and resources to help you learn how to select the right book, decide which format is best for your report, and outline your main points.

Selecting and Finding a Book

"30 Best Books for Elementary Readers" (Education.com)

This article from Education.com lists 30 engaging books for students from kindergarten through fifth grade. It was written by Esme Raji Codell, a teacher, author, and children's literature specialist.

"How to Choose a Good Book for a Report (Middle School)" (WikiHow)

This WikiHow article offers suggestions for middle schoolers on how to choose the right book for a report, from getting started early on the search process to making sure you understand the assignment's requirements.

"Best Book-Report Books for Middle Schoolers" (Common Sense Media)

Common Sense Media has compiled this list of 25 of the best books for middle school book reports. For younger students, the article suggests you check out the site's "50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12."

"50 Books to Read in High School" (Lexington Public Library)

The Lexington, Kentucky Public Library has prepared this list to inspire high school students to choose the right book. It includes both classics and more modern favorites.

The Online Computer Library Center's catalogue helps you locate books in libraries near you, having itemized the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries.

Formats of Book Reports

"Format for Writing a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

Here, Your Dictionary supplies guidelines for the basic book report format. It describes what you'll want to include in the heading, and what information to include in the introductory paragraph. Be sure to check these guidelines against your teacher's requirements.

"The Good Old Book Report" (Scholastic)

Nancy Barile’s blog post for Scholastic lists the questions students from middle through high school should address in their book reports.

How to Write an Outline

"Writer’s Web: Creating Outlines" (Univ. of Richmond)

The University of Richmond’s Writing Center shows how you can make use of micro and macro outlines to organize your argument.

"Why and How to Create a Useful Outline" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab demonstrates how outlines can help you organize your report, then teaches you how to create outlines.

"Creating an Outline" (EasyBib)

EasyBib, a website that generates bibliographies, offers sample outlines and tips for creating your own. The article encourages you to think about transitions and grouping your notes.

"How to Write an Outline: 4 Ways to Organize Your Thoughts" (Grammarly)

This blog post from a professional writer explains the advantages of using an outline, and presents different ways to gather your thoughts before writing.

In this section, you’ll find resources that offer an overview of how to write a book report, including first steps in preparing the introduction. A good book report's introduction hooks the reader with strong opening sentences and provides a preview of where the report is going.

"Step-by-Step Outline for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This article from Classroom furnishes students with a guide to the stages of writing a book report, from writing the rough draft to revising.

"Your Roadmap to a Better Book Report" ( Time4Writing )

Time4Writing offers tips for outlining your book report, and describes all of the information that the introduction, body, and conclusion should include.

"How to Start a Book Report" ( ThoughtCo)

This ThoughtCo. post, another by academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming, demonstrates how to write a pithy introduction to your book report.

"How to Write an Introduction for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief but helpful post from Classroom  details what makes a good book report introduction, down to the level of individual sentences.

The body paragraphs of your book report accomplish several goals: they describe the plot, delve more deeply into the characters and themes that make the book unique, and include quotations and examples from the book. Below are some resources to help you succeed in summarizing and analyzing your chosen text.

Plot Summary and Description

"How Do You Write a Plot Summary?" ( Reference )

This short article presents the goals of writing a plot summary, and suggests a word limit. It emphasizes that you should stick to the main points and avoid including too many specific details, such as what a particular character wears.

"How to Write a Plot for a Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

In this article from a resource website for writers, Patricia Harrelson outlines what information to include in a plot summary for a book report. 

"How to Write a Book Summary" (WikiHow)

Using Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as an example, this WikiHow article demonstrates how to write a plot summary one step at a time.

Analyzing Characters and Themes

"How to Write a Character Analysis Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kristine Tucker shows how to write a book report focusing on character. You can take her suggestions as they are, or consider  incorporating them into the more traditional book report format.

"How to Write a Character Analysis" (YouTube)

The SixMinuteScholar Channel utilizes analysis of the film  Finding Nemo to show you how to delve deeply into character, prioritizing inference over judgment.

"How to Define Theme" ( The Editor's Blog )

Fiction editor Beth Hill contributes an extended definition of theme. She also provides examples of common themes, such as "life is fragile."

"How to Find the Theme of a Book or Short Story" ( ThoughtCo )

This blog post from ThoughtCo. clarifies the definition of theme in relation to symbolism, plot, and moral. It also offers examples of themes in literature, such as love, death, and good vs. evil.

Selecting and Integrating Quotations

"How to Choose and Use Quotations" (Santa Barbara City College)

This guide from a college writing center will help you choose which quotations to use in your book report, and how to blend quotations with your own words.

"Guidelines for Incorporating Quotes" (Ashford Univ.)

This PDF from Ashford University's Writing Center introduces the ICE method for incorporating quotations: introduce, cite, explain.

"Quote Integration" (YouTube)

This video from The Write Way YouTube channel illustrates how to integrate quotations into writing, and also explains how to cite those quotations.

"Using Literary Quotations" (Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison)

This guide from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Writing Center helps you emphasize your analysis of a quotation, and explains how to incorporate quotations into your text.

Conclusions to any type of paper are notoriously tricky to write. Here, you’ll learn some creative ways to tie up loose ends in your report and express your own opinion of the book you read. This open space for sharing opinions that are not grounded in critical research is an element that often distinguishes book reports from other types of writing.

"How to Write a Conclusion for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief article from the education resource  Classroom illustrates the essential points you should make in a book report conclusion.

"Conclusions" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Writing Center lays out strategies for writing effective conclusions. Though the article is geared toward analytical essay conclusions, the tips offered here will also help you write a strong book report.

"Ending the Essay: Conclusions" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Pat Bellanca’s article for Harvard University’s Writing Center presents ways to conclude essays, along with tips. Again, these are suggestions for concluding analytical essays that can also be used to tie up a book report's loose ends.

Reading closely and in an engaged manner is the strong foundation upon which all good book reports are built. The resources below will give you a picture of what active reading looks like, and offer strategies to assess and improve your reading comprehension. Further, you’ll learn how to take notes—or “annotate” your text—making it easier to find important information as you write.

How to Be an Active Reader

"Active Reading Strategies: Remember and Analyze What You Read" (Princeton Univ.)

Princeton University’s McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning recommends ten strategies for active reading, and includes sample diagrams.

"Active Reading" (Open Univ.)

The Open University offers these techniques for reading actively alongside video examples. The author emphasizes that you should read for comprehension—not simply to finish the book as quickly as possible.

"7 Active Reading Strategies for Students" ( ThoughtCo )

In this post, Grace Fleming outlines seven methods for active reading. Her suggestions include identifying unfamiliar words and finding the main idea. 

"5 Active Reading Strategies for Textbook Assignments" (YouTube)

Thomas Frank’s seven-minute video demonstrates how you can retain the most important information from long and dense reading material.

Assessing Your Reading Comprehension

"Macmillan Readers Level Test" (MacMillan)

Take this online, interactive test from a publishing company to find out your reading level. You'll be asked a number of questions related to grammar and vocabulary.

"Reading Comprehension Practice Test" (ACCUPLACER)

ACCUPLACER is a placement test from The College Board. This 20-question practice test will help you see what information you retain after reading short passages.

"Reading Comprehension" ( English Maven )

The English Maven site has aggregated exercises and tests at various reading levels so you can quiz your reading comprehension skills.

How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension

"5 Tips for Improving Reading Comprehension" ( ThoughtCo )

ThoughtCo. recommends five tips to increase your reading comprehension ability, including reading with tools such as highlighters, and developing new vocabulary.

"How to Improve Reading Comprehension: 8 Expert Tips" (PrepScholar)

This blog post from PrepScholar provides ideas for improving your reading comprehension, from expanding your vocabulary to discussing texts with friends.

CrashCourse video: "Reading Assignments" (YouTube)

This CrashCourse video equips you with tools to read more effectively. It will help you determine how much material you need to read, and what strategies you can use to absorb what you read.

"Improving Reading Comprehension" ( Education Corner )

From a pre-reading survey through post-reading review, Education Corner  walks you through steps to improve reading comprehension.

Methods of In-text Annotation

"The Writing Process: Annotating a Text" (Hunter College)

This article from Hunter College’s Rockowitz Writing Center outlines how to take notes on a text and provides samples of annotation.

"How To Annotate Text While Reading" (YouTube)

This video from the SchoolHabits YouTube channel presents eleven annotation techniques you can use for better reading comprehension.

"5 Ways To Annotate Your Books" ( Book Riot )

This article from the Book Riot  blog highlights five efficient annotation methods that will save you time and protect your books from becoming cluttered with unnecessary markings.

"How Do You Annotate Your Books?" ( Epic Reads )

This post from Epic Reads highlights how different annotation methods work for different people, and showcases classic methods from sticky notes to keeping a reading notebook.

Students at every grade level can benefit from writing book reports, which sharpen critical reading skills. Here, we've aggregated sources to help you plan book report assignments and develop rubrics for written and oral book reports. You’ll also find alternative book report assessment ideas that move beyond the traditional formats.

Teaching Elementary School Students How to Write Book Reports

"Book Reports" ( Unique Teaching Resources )

These reading templates courtesy of Unique Teaching Resources make great visual aids for elementary school students writing their first book reports.

"Elementary Level Book Report Template" ( Teach Beside Me )

This   printable book report template from a teacher-turned-homeschooler is simple, classic, and effective. It asks basic questions, such as "who are the main characters?" and "how did you feel about the main characters?"

"Book Reports" ( ABC Teach )

ABC Teach ’s resource directory includes printables for book reports on various subjects at different grade levels, such as a middle school biography book report form and a "retelling a story" elementary book report template.

"Reading Worksheets" ( Busy Teacher's Cafe )

This page from Busy Teachers’ Cafe contains book report templates alongside reading comprehension and other language arts worksheets.

Teaching Middle School and High School Students How to Write Book Reports

"How to Write a Book Report: Middle and High School Level" ( Fact Monster)

Fact Monster ’s Homework Center discusses each section of a book report, and explains how to evaluate and analyze books based on genre for students in middle and high school.

"Middle School Outline Template for Book Report" (Trinity Catholic School)

This PDF outline template breaks the book report down into manageable sections for seventh and eighth graders by asking for specific information in each paragraph.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( Classroom )

In this article for Classroom,  Elizabeth Thomas describes what content high schoolers should focus on when writing their book reports.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kori Morgan outlines techniques for adapting the book report assignment to the high school level in this post for The Pen & The Pad .

"High School Book Lists and Report Guidelines" (Highland Hall Waldorf School)

These sample report formats, grading paradigms, and tips are collected by Highland Hall Waldorf School. Attached are book lists by high school grade level.

Sample Rubrics

"Book Review Rubric Editable" (Teachers Pay Teachers)

This free resource from Teachers Pay Teachers allows you to edit your book report rubric to the specifications of your assignment and the grade level you teach.

"Book Review Rubric" (Winton Woods)

This PDF rubric from a city school district includes directions to take the assignment long-term, with follow-up exercises through school quarters.

"Multimedia Book Report Rubric" ( Midlink Magazine )

Perfect for oral book reports, this PDF rubric from North Carolina State University's Midlink Magazine  will help you evaluate your students’ spoken presentations.

Creative Book Report Assignments

"25 Book Report Alternatives" (Scholastic)

This article from the Scholastic website lists creative alternatives to the standard book report for pre-kindergarteners through high schoolers.

"Fresh Ideas for Creative Book Reports" ( Education World )

Education World offers nearly 50 alternative book report ideas in this article, from a book report sandwich to a character trait diagram.

"A Dozen Ways to Make Amazingly Creative Book Reports" ( We Are Teachers )

This post from We Are Teachers puts the spotlight on integrating visual arts into literary study through multimedia book report ideas.

"More Ideas Than You’ll Ever Use for Book Reports" (Teachnet.com)

This list from Teachnet.com includes over 300 ideas for book report assignments, from "interviewing" a character to preparing a travel brochure to the location in which the book is set.

"Fifty Alternatives to the Book Report" (National Council of Teachers of English)

In this PDF resource from the NCTE's  English Journal,  Diana Mitchell offers assignment ideas ranging from character astrology signs to a character alphabet.

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Home » Reading lists for Middle School children » 7th grade reading books for children aged 12-13

7th grade reading books for children aged 12-13

Books for grade 7 – this list of suggested reading books for grade 7 has been curated and compiled for middle and high school students aged 12-13. There is a range of exciting and thought-provoking books to suit all abilities in the 7th Grade, including easy readers and more difficult texts. This list of 7th grade reading recommendations includes titles by Lois Lowry, Lana Krumwiede, Markus Zusak, Kwame Alexander and S.E. Hinton.

Books for Grade 7 – our recommendations

Starfish by lisa fipps.

Using free verse, 12-year-old Ellie tells the reader about her swimming pool safe place where she can escape a world that fat shames and bullies her. With the help of her new neighbor, her dad, and her therapist, Ellie grows in confidence. An inspiring, empowering, and personal story that will appeal to less confident readers. Perfect for book club discussion.

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

Amal’s dreams of being a teacher when she’s older are put on hold when she has to look after her siblings instead of going to school in rural Pakistan. But her hope is further shattered when she is forced into working for a rich family to pay off a family debt. The corruption she sees and the enemies she makes put her in grave danger. Will she be able to save her family and realize her dreams? A sparkling story of bravery, resilience, justice, and revenge.

The Glass Town Game by Catherynne M. Valente

To keep themselves from thinking about being sent away to boarding school, Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne Brontë create a game to pass the time. But in a spectacular story of enchantment, their Glass Town game comes alive, their toy soldiers have real weapons, and there’s a magic potion to be found and fought over. Highly recommended, this is a highly original and imaginative fantasy.

Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper

When 13-year-old Jake comes out, his family and his friends at middle school are supportive. But the same cannot be said for the small-town mindset of Barton Springs, Ohio. When Jake’s father shows his support by planting an enormous pride flag in their front yard, the townsfolk feel threatened and raise concerns with the Mayor. But Jake is not deterred and becomes determined to organize a town pride parade. In an era of book bannings and veiled homophobia, this heartwarming and positive book is a breath of fresh air.

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Jordan loves to draw – especially cartoons. Denied the chance to go to art school by his parents, he is sent to an upmarket academic school away from his friends. Jordan has to find a new path and adapt to his new surroundings. A graphic novel – this will appeal to reluctant middle school readers.

A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata

An insightful chapter book that covers a less well known period of history. A Japanese / American family released from internment after WW2 are pressured to revoke their US citizenship and return to Japan. Bewildered hurt, and confused over her identity, young Hana finds herself living near Hiroshima with her elderly grandparents. Starvation, disease and the difficulty of coping with an unfamiliar Japanese culture awaken Hana to the realities of war.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

When 12-year-old Jonas is appointed the Receiver of Memory he starts to uncover and understand the buried secrets held by the people he lives amongst. The first in a gripping quartet.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

When Winnie Foster stumbles upon a fountain of eternal youth she thinks all her prayers are answered. But then she meets a family who drank from the spring water. Will she decide to live forever? Will she keep the magic water secret? A modern classic and an ideal seventh-grade group reader.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

When millionaire Samuel Westing dies, he leaves a will like no other. Sixteen people will have to play a cunning game to inherit his vast fortune. A cracking page-turner which will appeal to young adults.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D Schmidt

Told over the course of one year between 1967 and 1968 in Long Island, this novel follows Holling, a seventh-grader who juggles his home life, getting into trouble at school and growing up amid the backdrop of the Vietnam War. Great to read in one sitting.

Watership Down by Richard Adams

An atmospheric quest story about a group of rabbits fleeing from danger to danger in search of a peaceful and safe life. When Fiver, Hazel, Bigwig, and friends think they’ve found the perfect location, events take a turn for the worse. An ideal 7th grade reading book for more advanced students.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

A stunning story, set entirely in verse, about two brothers who compete against each other in life and on the basketball court. Gripping and ideal for reluctant readers.

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen

When Cole Mathews commits a terrible crime, the judge gives him an unusual choice: jail time or a rehabilitation program on a remote Alaskan wilderness island He chooses the latter and soon has to fight for his life in a captivating story of survival and iron will. A great addition to a 7th grade reading bookshelf.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

A captivating and gripping story – told from the eyes of death – and set in Nazi Germany in 1939 which follows Liesel, a girl who steals books. A surprising friendship develops which allows her to read the vast library of a local dignitary. Her view of the world changes completely. A challenging and thought-provoking book for a 7th grade reading list.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

A multi-award-winning middle-grade fantasy novel about Xan, a girl who breaks a sacred tradition and feeds a baby bound for sacrifice with moonlight. As a result, the child grows to become extraordinarily powerful with dangerous magical abilities.

Snow White by Matt Phelan

A highly engaging graphic novel film noir style retelling of the Snow White tale. Set in 1930s New York, Samantha White has come home after years of exile, protected by seven street urchins. With vibrant artwork, this book is great for reluctant seventh-grade readers.

Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan

Cast down from Mouth Olympus by his angry father Zeus, Apollo finds himself fending for himself as a regular teen boy in New York. A regular teen with no superhuman powers. Can he ever make it up with his father and return to the gods?

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

After years of saving and waiting, Billy buys two pups, Old Dan and Little Ann. Soon he feels invincible, exploring the Ozarks with his stellar hunting dogs. But danger lurks just around the corner. This modern classic is a perfect easy reader for 7th grade.

Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D Schmidt

A startling and moving story about family and sacrifice. 12-year-old Joe narrates the story of his friend Joseph, a father at the age of 13, but he has never seen his daughter and will do anything to find her. A gripping page-turner for more mature seventh-grade readers.

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer

An epic fantasy series about Alex and Conner, twin brothers who find themselves embroiled in adventures in a fairy tale world after reading from a strange and magical book. This is an addictive and enthralling set of books which is bound to appeal to reluctant readers in grade 7.

Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer

The year is 793 in a quiet Saxon settlement. When Viking Berserkers appear from the mist and kidnap 11-year-old Jack, he and his sister are thrown into an epic quest with Olaf One-Brow.

The Pigman by Paul Zindel

When a practical joke goes badly wrong the unforeseen consequences last longer than high school friends John and Lorraine could ever have imagined. Perhaps their only chance of redemption is for them to tell the story of Pigman. A classic young adult novel ideal for more advanced readers.

Brian’s Winter by Gary Paulsen

In a sequel to Hatchet, Gary Paulsen asks the question – what if Brian hadn’t been rescued? What if he had to survive long enough to face the dangers of winter? Will he survive? Find out in this thrilling and exciting adventure.

The Girl with the Ghost Machine by Lauren DeStefano

A fun and easier read for children in grade 7. When Emmaline’s mother dies suddenly, her father Monsieur Beaumont tries to build a ghost machine. But when he spends longer and longer on the machine, Emmaline decides she must either destroy it or make it work herself. An ideal book to use in class when discussing loss or grief.

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

When Marty finds a stray dog in the woods, the beagle soon becomes the most important part of his life. But when he discovers who the dog ran away from, will the dangerous secret become too much for Marty to bear? A moving story that is perfect for less confident readers.

Tex by SE Hinton

A thought-provoking and a character-driven novel about carefree Tex and his tense home life in the care of his resentful older brother. When their often absent father returns, Tex runs away and events spiral out of control. An ideal novel for 7th-grade book clubs.

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Sophie and Agatha are sent to the school for Good and Evil where students are trained to be heroes and villains. A highly original and enchanting series of stories where which intertwine characters into fairy tales from which they must try to escape. Fast-paced – these books are ideal for less confident readers.

Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt

When four siblings are abandoned by their mother in a parking lot they have to use their wits and luck to trek across America’s East Coastal Highway from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Crisfield in Maryland where their grandmother lives. A more challenging read for seventh-grade students.

Counting by Sevens by Holly Goldberg Sloan

A story of triumph in the face of adversity. When introverted Willow’s parents both die tragically in a car accident she finds herself completely alone in a world she already finds challenging. Will she ever be able to connect with people and have a normal family life? A great book for group discussion.

Nothing by the Truth by Avi

Philip is left out of the track team due to his English grades but Philip is convinced it is all because of his unfair teacher Miss Narwin. However, when he stages a rebellious protest, he isn’t prepared for what follows when it goes viral…

River Thunder by Will Hobbs

In this high-octane sequel to Downriver, each one of the teenage crew has something to prove. Can Trey learn to work with other people? Is Jessie brave enough? Can the crew survive the perilous rapids? A stimulating book that is ideal to provoke 7th-grade reading discussions.

Crown of Three by JD Rhinehart

Tarlan, Elodie, and Gulph are triplets with superpowers who have never met each other. Events conspire to force them together in this epic tale of good and evil in a magical land filled with danger. Will they fulfill the ancient prophecy and bring peace and harmony to the world?

Where the Lilies Bloom by Vera & Bill Cleaver

A classic historical drama that examines poverty and hardship in rural America. Mary Calls stops at nothing to carry out her dying father’s last wish to keep the family together. An uplifting tale of survival against the odds.

Loot by Jude Watson

March’s father’s dying wish is for his son to find his long lost twin sister – Jules. But there’s no happy ending when he finds her – both are soon kept under lock and key in a dark orphanage. Will they find a way to escape and pull off the life-changing robbery their father had planned?

Redwall by Brian Jacques

A despotic rat called Cluny the Scourge threatens to invade and conquer an enclave of peace-loving mice in Redwall Abbey. Seemingly, nothing can stop the rat army unless unlikely alliances can be made. A tale of good versus evil and an easier reader for children in the seventh grade.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Thomas knows who he is, but that’s it. Finding himself trapped in a walled encampment he has to choose friends and alliances carefully to survive the dangers of the maze. Thrilling and edgy, this story will appeal to reluctant readers. A captivating read for any 7th-grade reading group.

The Absolute Value of Mike by Kathryn Erskine

Mike wants to relate to his dad, but that’s hard when his dad is obsessed with math. When Mike agrees to stay with relatives for the summer vacation to appease his father, he cannot imagine the adventure that awaits. A great story about the human condition.

Freakling by Lana Krumwiede

In this dark dystopian fantasy, Taemon unexpectedly loses his power to move objects with his mind – a power everyone in his world has. Faced with shame, discrimination and worse, how can he stop people from finding out? Or will the exile he fears turn out better than he could have imagined? An ideal novel for 7th-grade book clubs and class discussion.

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

High fantasy adventure with Bilbo Baggins joins Gandalf on an epic quest to the Lonely Mountain where vast treasure and the fierce dragon Smaug await them. The prequel to The Lord of the Rings.

Click the buttons below to purchase all of the books in this 7th grade book list, as well as classroom sets of any of these books and many more, from Bookshop.org. Or buy the 20 most popular titles from this list from Amazon – ideal for gifts or stocking your school library. If you are ordering from outside the US, have a look at our ‘worldwide orders’ page which makes this process easy.

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20 Good Nonfiction Books for 7th Graders to Read

by Nikki | Jul 15, 2018 | Reading Lists | 0 comments

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Looking for some really good nonfiction books for 7th graders? These top 20 books introduce your tweens to a myriad of fascinating subjects and help them learn more about the world around them! From ancient art to modern technology, there’s something here for every interest!

While I’ve always been a fiction kind of girl myself, my son is the opposite. Sure, he has his favorite fiction series (he’s especially into manga right now), but the bulk of his library consists of books filled with fun facts about his favorite subjects or how-to guides for his favorite games.

He’s learned more through reading nonfiction books that he picked out himself than he has in 7 years of elementary and middle school. Don’t get me wrong, school is important, but our kids are much more likely to retain information when they have some choice in how they receive it.

Since Jake just finished 7th grade, I thought now would be a great time to share some of the good nonfiction books that taught him so much throughout the year! Check them out!

Good Nonfiction Books for 7th Graders to Read

*The book links are affiliate links, which means that I earn a tiny commission (at no extra charge to you) when you make a purchase through them. I broke this list down into the most popular nonfiction book categories to make it easier to browse. I’ve also embedded a preview whenever available. Some of these books are only available in print, though, because they are graphic-heavy and don’t translate well to an ebook.

1. Everything You Need to Ace Science in One Big Fat Notebook

2. Girls Think of Everything:  Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women

3. Rocket Science for the Rest of Us

4.  Maker Lab: 28 Super Cool Projects: Build * Invent * Create * Discover

5.  Super Earth Encyclopedia 

Computers & Technology

6.  the way things work now.

7.  Get Coding!

8.  The LEGO Power Functions Idea Book

9.  Coding Games in Scratch

10. Minecraft Guide Collection

11.  Harry Potter – A Journey Through A History of Magic

12.  Four Perfect Pebbles: A True Story of the Holocaust

13.  The Boy Who Became Buffalo Bill: Growing Up Billy Cody in Bleeding Kansas

14.  Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions: You Can Build Yourself 

Leonardo da Vinci is the grandfather of pretty much every amazing discovery and invention. In this book by Maxine Anderson , tweens first learn about the times in which da Vinci lived and what inspired him to create such revolutionary (at least back then) inventions. Then, they can try their hand at making some of his simpler creations themselves using common household supplies!

15.  1001 Inventions and Awesome Facts from Muslim Civilization

16.  The Creativity Project: An Awesometastic Story Collection

17.  The Future Architect’s Handbook

18.  Legends, Icons & Rebels: Music That Changed the World

19.  National Geographic Kids Guide to Photography

20.  National Geographic The Photo Ark

It was hard to narrow down the vast sea of good nonfiction books for 7th graders, but these are my top picks for each category. While many of them are written for kids from 9-12, I picked books that weren’t too “little kiddie” so that they would appeal to preteens.

Do you know of any other good nonfiction books for 7th graders to read? Share with me below so I can check it out!

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The Best Realistic Fiction Books for 7th Graders

If you know one thing about me, it’s that realistic fiction is my jam! I’ve met so many young readers recently who also love this genre, and I’m more than happy to share my favorite books with them. Because I’m always reading, many of the books I on this list of realistic fiction for 7th graders are newer releases. So if you want more backlist titles, check out my older list of books for 7th graders . If your kid is always reading up a storm like me, you’ll love this list of newer realistic fiction titles perfect for 7th graders.

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Here are 20 of the best realistic fiction books for 7th graders:

The Hurricane Girls

Published: August 29, 2023

Greer, Joya, and Kiki are three best friends born just after Hurricane Katrina. Now 12 years after the catastrophe, they’re dealing with personal life struggles. Greer feels responsible for an accident that left her sister paralyzed from the waist down and has stopped running track–something she loved dearly before the accident, Kiki is grappling with an absentee father, and Joya is trying to help her financially strained family. Kiki decides that the three girls will sign up for a triathlon to get Greer back into running, but the plan ends up changing all three girls’ lives.

The First Magnificent Summer

Published: May 30, 2023

It’s the 90s, and Tori (Victoria) Reeves is planning the first magnificent summer with her father since he left their family over two years ago. He now has a new partner and two kids but is taking Victoria and her two siblings with his new family camping in Ohio. As the trip progresses, Victoria and her siblings realize that their father hasn’t changed much from the emotionally abusive parent he was. But will he stop Victoria from writing her own story?

Tiger Daughter

Published: August 15, 2023

Wen is a first-gen daughter of Chinese immigrants living in Australia. Her dad is angry because he hasn’t been able to re-qualify as a medical professional in Australia, and he tries to control Wen and her mother’s lives. Wen plans to go to high school far away from their town — she and her best friend at school, another first gen immigrant kid. But when a tragedy occurs in Henry’s family, Wen and her mother must step up to support him if they want to achieve their dreams.

This is a brilliant new middle grade book that is fantastic on audio. Readers should know that a child’s parents takes their own life in the course of the story.

Published: March 31, 2020

Ross Maloy just wants to be a normal seventh-grader, but he’s been diagnosed with a rare eye cancer and has to do radiotherapy to stay alive — after a surgery that makes him blind in one eye. To top things off, his best friend is moving away and he’s somehow in a band with his school bully. This book is hilarious, precious, and manages to appeal to kids and adults with Ross’s authentic voice.

Published: August 2, 2022

Invisible  is a powerful, heartwarming graphic novel  about immigration , homelessness, racism, and finding your tribe.

Five different students have yet to complete their community service for a school offense and must explain why (as well as what they did) to their principal. Thus, these five seemingly socially invisible kids each share from their perspectives how they got in trouble — and readers are definitely in for a ride. There’s George, the smart kid who Latino, but can’t speak Spanish; Sara, the loner; Dayara, the tough kid, Miguel, the baseball player; and Nico, the rich kid. The story is told in Spanish and English.

Published: July 5, 2022

Marianne Blume has convinced herself that she’s not smart. She’s gotten through school so far by charming teachers out of questioning her. But her eighth-grade teacher, Mr. Garcia, isn’t easily fooled. To pull up her grades for high school, Marianne tries to win his favor by joining the school’s trivia team (which he coaches). But as the term progresses, Marianne bonds with the trivia kids and learns that there’s more to being smart than book smart — but also, she’s more intelligent than she gives herself credit for.

Published: October 24, 2023

Max Plink’s life is rough. She has a Class II malocclusion and has to wear braces, but now her dentist is saying she’ll also need headgear if she wants to avoid dental surgery and fix her teeth for good. To add to the trauma, her sister is being really mean to her, teaming up with school bullies to make fun of her. Her mom won’t stop smoking and her dad keeps drinking, which means the two keep fighting.

Through it all, Max learns the power of her voice and manages to make the best of life’s lemons. This is one the most moving, relatable books I’ve ever read. Kids who like stories with writer protagonists and realistic family dynamics will enjoy this.

Published: November 21, 2023

This stunning graphic novel follows Cinzia, Avvisi writer’s apprentice living in sunny Sianerra. They write stories/pamphlets to the city with news but not everyone likes when they tell the truth. After an edition exposing the principessa for extortion, cinzia and her mestra are arrested at night and she has to join forces with the princess to fight back against censorship. This is closer to fantasy but without magical elements and set in an old-timey Italian village, so it could work for lovers of realistic fiction too.

Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper

Published: April 11, 2023

Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper  follows 7th grader Gemma Hopper whose mother has left their family. Gemma lives with her dad, older brother Teddy, and their twin younger brothers. While their dad works overtime to fend for the family materially, Gemma is saddled with caring for the home and her twin siblings while also serving as a ball machine/practice partner for her brother, who’s a baseball prodigy of sorts. Understandably, she’s tired and frustrated sometimes.

Her schoolwork is also proving a bit challenging. This school year, her teacher has asked their class to create a family tree project, which Gemma is not thrilled about because of her mother. One day, while practicing with Teddy, she strikes him out with two impressive pitches, capturing the attention of some scouts from a competitive baseball team. All of a sudden, Gemma now also has star potential. Can both siblings find a way to work together? And can Gemma get through the family tree project?

Make a Move Sunny Park!

Sunny Park is a socially anxious girl obsessed with her favorite K-Pop band, Supreme Beat. She has one friend, Bailey, and tries to be there as much as possible (to a fault) for her—even when it means quitting ballet which she loved.

But when Bailey drags her to audition for her school’s dance team, Sunny gets in, and Bailey doesn’t. Sunny’s mom insists that Sunny continues on the team, to Bailey’s dismay. As Sunny makes new friends, she starts to realize that maybe Bailey isn’t such a great one.

This was a fun, relatable (at times frustrating) story about standing up for oneself, dance, fandom, and finding true friends. Like  Kim’s Yumi Chung , this is on the longer side, but Sunny is an engaging character who I think young readers will identify with.

Something More

Published: June 6, 2023

Something More  by Jackie Khalilieh is an original, relatable, and funny young adult novel about autism, family, and coming-of-age.

Jessie is a fifteen-year-old Palestinian-Canadian who’s getting into high school soon after an autism diagnosis. She feels “abnormal,” especially as she doesn’t have a cellphone, but is determined to belong to a friend group and fall in love this school year. However, when she finds herself caught between two very different boys, she realizes that things don’t always go to plan.

The Unofficial Lola Bay Fan Club

Published: April 18, 2023

Sixth graders Iris and her best friend Leeza love singer Lola Bay. But after some mean girls take over their plan to start an official Lola Bay fan club, the girls befriend eighth-grader Dana, who says she’s starting an “unofficial” fan club.  Leeza quickly gets bored and finds other interests, while Iris is delighted to be friends with an older girl. But soon, Dana’s actions start to worry Iris. She keeps hacking into websites, then she uses Iris’s parents’ credit card to buy tour tickets! Can Iris find help before it’s too late?

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn

Published: July 11, 2023

Maudie is a sweet, autistic girl spending the summer with her dad. When her dad’s home is razed in a California wildfire, they move to the small beach town where her father grew up. Throughout the summer, as Maudie makes new friends, starts learning to surf, and enters a surfing contest, a secret tugs at her–one her mother has asked her to keep from her dad. 

The Braid Girls

Published: June 13, 2023

In  The Braid Girls , Maggie’s summer is off to a rocky start when her parents announce that she has a half-sister—a daughter her father never knew about until now. Callie’s presence throws off soft-spoken Maggie’s dynamic with her outspoken best friend Daija, even more when Callie joins their hair-braiding business. This is a sweet, relatable middle grade  book about sisterhood , entrepreneurship, and finding your voice. This book shines in its realistic portrayal of familial complexities and the ups and downs of friendship.

Lo and Behold

Published: May 2, 2023

In  Lo and Behold , Addie has reluctantly moved across the country with her dad for his summer job in the virtual reality industry. He’s working on research to use virtual reality (VR) for therapeutic purposes, such as helping people cultivate empathy. Addie is not into VR, but that starts to change when she meets Matteo another kid on campus, and tries out VR on her own. Eventually, the two find a helpful use for VR that helps other people.

The Kate in Between

Published: May 18, 2021

Kate McAllister’s life is in need of a refresh. Her mother has left town chasing the highest tier in an MLM scheme and Kate is living with her cop dad and getting driven to school in his police car. When a bunch of popular kids seems to welcome Kate into their clique, she is torn about ditching her longtime best friend, Haddie. Haddie marches to the beat of her own drum and could care less about being accepted. Things get complicated, however, when Kate is a passive participant in a bullying incident that leads to Haddie sinking on thin ice. Then, Kate is captured on camera saving Haddie, and the video goes viral.

While news outlets hail “Kate the Great” as a shining example for tweens who should not be bullying other kids, Kate continues to oscillate between craving acceptance from the popular kids and trying to keep her friendship with Haddie, all the while maintaining her public image by appearing in newspapers and on popular YouTube channels. But how long can she keep up the charade? And, is Kate great? Or is she a bad person?

Curlfriends: New in Town (A Graphic Novel)

Published: October 10, 2023

Charlie is the new kid for the umpteenth time, but this time things will be different. Her dad is no longer in the military, and this is a more permanent home, so she feels more pressure to find and impress some new friends. When she meets a cool group of Black girls with varying interests, she decides to hide her “babyish” style and hobbies to befriend them. But she soon learns that with true friends, you can be your whole self. This is cute first book in a new graphic novel series about Black hair, girlfriends, fashion, and adjusting to change.

Mia is part of two tribes, although she’s only known one for most of her life. She lives with her Jewish mom and stepfather in California but has always been curious about her father and his Muscogee heritage. Her mom and dad did not have an amicable divorce, so her mother doesn’t like to talk about her dad.

Eventually, Mia’s curiosity gets the best of her, and she uses her Bat Mitzvah money to travel to her father in Oklahoma, telling her mom that she’s at a Jewish camp. There, she learns about her Muscogee family and their culture. But of course, her mom finds out, and Mia is in a fix. Can she embrace both sides of herself even when she’s in California?

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Published: February 4, 2020

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder  follows British teen Pippa Fitz-Amobi who’s decided to do her senior capstone project on a local murder case that was closed 5 years ago. Five years ago, high schooler Andie Bell went missing and her boyfriend Sal Singh sent his father a text admitting to the crime, after which he was found in what seemed like an apparent suicide. But Pip doesn’t buy it. With the help of Sal’s younger brother, Ravi, she investigates the events surrounding Andie’s disappearance and Sal’s murder. But the culprit won’t let her find the truth so easily. Can Pippa hack the crime?

Farewell Cuba, Mi Isla

Published: September 5, 2023

1960, Cuba. Cousins Victoria and Jackie love living in their island country with their large family. When when Fidel Castro’s communist government takes hold, things change swiftly leading Victoria’s father to relocate his family to Miami, leaving Jackie and her family behind.

As Victoria adapts to life in the US, Jackie and her family struggle in Cuba—until the family decides to send Jackie over to the States with Operation Peter Pan. But will Jackie ever see her family again. Both girls band together to bring the rest of their family to America. I really enjoyed this historical fiction release based on the author’s mother’s experience as a Cuban refugee.

There they are: 20 of the best realistic fiction books for 7th graders! Which of these books have you read and loved? Which ones are on your radar?

More Books for 7th Graders

• 70 books for 7th graders
• The best books for 12 year olds
• Great books for 12 year old boys

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• About Afoma Umesi

Afoma Umesi is the founder and editor of Reading Middle Grade where she curates book lists and writes book reviews for kids of all ages. Her favorite genre to read is contemporary realistic fiction and she'll never say no to a graphic novel.

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The 57 Best Chapter Books for 7th Graders to Read (In 2022)

Books suitable for seventh graders are a bit of a dilemma.

Why’s that, you ask? 

Well, you need to find books that are age-appropriate yet still advanced and exciting enough for a young adult’s mind. Accordingly, chapter books are your best bet when it comes to seventh graders.

That being so, we’ve scoured the world for the best books for seventh grade. From fantasy and adventure to historical fiction and simple biographies, here are the 57 best chapter books you could possibly hope to find.

1. The Maze Runner – James Dashner

This is among the best 7th-grade books you may hope to come across. It’s rife with mystery, suspense, and adventure, making it a fun read for any middle school student. Essentially, it follows Thomas and the other kids with him as they attempt to escape from the ever-changing maze that surrounds them, trying to survive all the while.

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2. The Benefits Of Being An Octopus – Ann Braden

While rich kids her age worry about homework and crushes, seventh-grader Zoey has to think about taking care of her younger siblings. Not only that but she’s also forced to join the debate club, which further puts a wall between her and her peers. So, can she speak her mind, even if it means risking her peaceful life? You tell us.

3. Summerlost – Ally Condie

If you’re not that much into fantasy and sci-fi, then get lost in the pages of Summerlost. It depicts how our main character battles her grief after her father’s and brother’s death. Then, she makes a new friend in a small town and finds out that there may be more to her summer than she originally thought.

4. The Girl With The Ghost Machine – Lauren Destefano

Not only is this book thought-provoking, but it’s also heart-wrenching.

It tells the moving story of Emmaline, who watches her father obsessively trying to bring her mother from the dead. Thus, with the help of her two best friends, Emmaline decides to put a stop to his endeavors in hopes of getting him back.

5. The Girl Who Drank The Moon – Kelly Barnhill

What do you do when people fear you and keep offering their babies as sacrifices? Well, resume them, of course. At least, that’s what our protagonist, the kind witch Xan, does. However, when she makes a mistake with one of the children, things start taking an interesting turn, and her life, as well as that of the child, will be forever altered.

6. Restart – Gordon Korman

Looking for a book that’ll hook reluctant readers? Then Restart is your best bet. It tells the story of Chase, who’s trying to turn a new page and get a clean start after losing all his memories. However, he first has to puzzle out his messy and mysterious past before he can decide on whether he wants to change or not.

7. The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins

I’ve never met a middle schooler that hasn’t enjoyed, or at least been taken in, by the first installment of The Hunger Games trilogy. Truly, this book has the perfect mix of underdog protagonist and dystopian future that’ll have middle school readers hungry for more. So, take a stab at this book and see what Katniss has to do to beat 23 people looking to kill her.

8. The Story That Cannot Be Told – J. Kasper Kramer

What do you do when you need to tell your story, but you know there’ll be hell to pay for it? Do you hold your tongue and favor your safety, or will you brave the worst? This is the decision that Illeana has to make as she goes about her life in the communist country of Romania.

9. The Ruins of Gorlan – John Flanagan

Both middle schools and high schoolers will mightily enjoy this book. It’s the first of the many adventures that the main characters will experience, and it’s not something that you’ll soon forget. From sinister enemies and exciting battles to wise, though highly sarcastic, mentors, this book is the perfect fantasy adventure story.

10. The Unwanteds – Lisa McMann

Another book to add to your 7th-grade reading list should be the Unwanteds. In a world where people are divided into Wanteds and Unwanteds, what can two brothers do when they’re separated and then pitted against each other? Honestly, this book will leave middle school readers at the edge of their seats, waiting for the worst and hoping for the best.

11. The Places We Sleep – Caroline Brooks Dubois

The best books for seventh graders are determined by how much a book touches your soul, and that’s definitely what this book does.

In it, Abbey’s world keeps changing. First, her father goes back on active duty; then, she gets her first period. As she copes with those life-altering changes, seventh-grade kids will also learn how to make sense of their ever-changing bodies and environments.

12. The Wednesday Wars – Gary D. Schmidt

Though set in the time of the Vietnam war, when it comes down to it, this is a story of a seventh-grade student who can’t seem to figure out his place in the world. More importantly, he can’t for the life of him understand his English teacher or why he has to read the works of Shakespeare, which, let’s be honest, some of us still don’t know the answer to.

13. York: The Shadow Cipher – Laura Ruby

The list of best books for 7th graders would have to include York: The Shadow Cipher. It’s basically one great, splendid puzzle whose pieces keep coming together with every new chapter. Accordingly, middle-grade readers who have a thing for mystery and secret would absolutely love this book.

14. Eragon – Christopher Paolini

Follow the story of a farm boy called Eragon who one day finds a dragon and decides to raise it himself. However, this decision comes at a cost that may be too hard to bear. A few pages into this magical world and all the teen readers will be hooked, making it perfect for both reluctant and advanced readers.

15. The Great And Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life Of Showman P. T. Barnum – Candace Fleming

Middle schoolers will greatly appreciate the true story of P.T. Barnum. While many people either think of him as good or evil, this book shows that things are more complicated than that, making younger readers more thoughtful of their thoughts and actions.

16. When Stars Are Shattered – Victoria Jamieson

If you’ve got yourself some seriously reluctant readers, then you may do better by choosing this book. Yes, it’s closer to a graphic novel than a chapter book, but it’s still well-suited to middle schoolers. In brief, it demonstrates what it was like for a Somali man who grew up in a refugee camp located in Kenya.

17. The Prettiest – Brigit Young

Joining our book list for the 7th grade is the Prettiest. It’s a breath of fresh air for young feminists and shows how it’s critical that young boys and girls fight against sexism and objectification.

18. Genesis Begins Again – Alicia D. Williams 

Young Genesis has a long list of reasons concerning why she dislikes herself. However, she discovers that there are things that she likes about herself as well, and she eventually learns that her attitude towards herself is the first thing she should fix.

19. The Book Thief – Markus Zusak

When you’re living in Nazi Germany with death lurking in every corner, what better thing should a foster girl occupy her time with than steal some book? Find out what becomes of Leslie, and think about the true value of books while you’re at it.

20. Serena Says – Tanita S. Davis

Standing in someone’s shadow isn’t particularly pleasant, and Serena knows this quite well. So, after her friend gets a kidney transplant and things start changing, can Selena find her own voice and shine on her own, or will she forever be just a mirror reflecting her friend’s light?

21. The Midnight Zoo – Sonya Hartnett 

7th-grade chapter books don’t get much better than The Midnight Zoo. In it, three siblings living during the time of Nazi Germany witnessed their friends and family being captured. While walking around searching for food, they encounter a zoo that has talking animals in dire need of help and hope.

22. The Science Of Breakable Things – Tae Keller

Ever think about entering an egg-drop competition to help your mother? Well, neither did Natalie, but that’s the situation she finds herself in. Fortunately, with the help of her friends, she discovers that there’s no shame in sharing her struggles, and she becomes a better person for it.

23. Freak The Mighty – Rodman Philbrick

Not everyone finds it easy to fit in. So, that’s exactly why two very different boys, one oversized and one tiny, decide to team up and find their way in the world. It goes without saying, this book is positively uplifting, and it’ll tackle some major issues that middle school students go through.

24. Planet Earth Is Blue – Nicole Panteleakos

Nova and her big sister, Bridget, have always been there for each other. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, Nova is placed with a new foster family, and she gets separated from her sister. Will the sisters make it back to each other, or will this story have a sad ending? Read and find out.

25. The Westing Game – Ellen Raskin

Even though Sam Westing is dead, he’s still maintaining his reputation as the eccentric millionaire. This is demonstrated when he gathers sixteen people, one of them a stranger, at his will reading for a chance to inherit his fortune. Why? Only he knows.

26. Last Gamer Standing – Katie Zhao

In this book, professional gamers are the top celebrities. Accordingly, kids start gaming from a young age in the hopes of joining a professional e-sports team. Reyna is one such kid. However, she keeps her identity hidden to avoid harassment. Still, what she fears comes to be, and she’s forced to confront the issue head-on, all while battling the biggest battle of her life.

27. Forget Me Not – Ellie Terry

Calliope has Tourette’s Syndrome, but she and her mother want nothing more in the world than to hide this little fact. That being so, she keeps moving around. So, when she finally settles down and makes a friend, will her friend stay by her side when the truth gets out, or will she be forced to move once again?

28. The Lightning Thief – Rick Riordan

Want a book that transports you away from real life? Then, this is the book for you. Honestly, Percy Jackson makes for the perfect character; brave, kind, and most importantly, sarcastic. And add to this some fast-paced adventures centered around Greek mythology; it’s no wonder this series has quite the following.

29. The Bridge Home – Padma Venkatraman

Can children with no parents or homes survive long enough on their own without the help of grown-ups? While it seemed possible at first for our four main characters, a new development makes their situation dire. Honestly, this book is a wonderful addition to any classroom library, and it would make for a wonderful class discussion about when it’s okay to ask for help.

30. Reckless – Cornelia Funke 

Jacob Reckless certainly lives up to his name in this novel. He frequently leaves his real life for another magical world named Mirrorworld. However, when his younger brother gets entangled with this world, Jacob must find a way to save him, or else all will be gone.

31. How To Find What You’re Not Looking For – Veera Hiranandani

Another wonderful coming-of-age story is found in this book. It follows the life of twelve-year-old Ariel Goldberg, who feels as if her life is in shambles. From her parents’ financial troubles to her eloping sister, Ariel tries to cultivate the one constant in her life; her voice.

32. Everything Sad Is Untrue – Daniel Nayeri

Based on a true story, this book tells the story of a family fleeing Iran. While Khosrou may not be the most popular kid in his class, he sure knows how to tell a story, and his is one worth listening to. So, get ready to hear a riveting story, one that lives in the past and the present.

33. Hearts Unbroken – Cynthia Leitich Smith

When you’re caught between family obligations and your heart’s desires, which should you choose? Louise Wolfe is trying to find out that answer as she goes about her life, and many middle school students will definitely relate to her dilemma. That’s why this book is one of the absolute best books for 7th grade and a must-read for any young adult.

34. The Poet X – Elizabeth Acevedo

Since she started growing up, Xiomara Batista feels as if her family no longer hears her. However, she decides to take matters into her own hands and start saying what she wants. On a piece of paper, of course. However, when Xiomara is invited to join a slam poetry club, can she hide the fact from her parents, or will she be discovered? Read and see for yourself.

35. Ghost Boys – Jewell Parker Rhodes

In a devastating turn of events, little Jerome gets shot when a police officer thinks he’s holding a gun. Now, Jerome wanders the world as a ghost, watching his family and community deal with the aftermath until he meets another ghost that helps him through the ordeal.

36. Nightmares! – Jason Segel And Kirsten Miller

Charlie can’t sleep from all his nightmares. Still, the lack of sleep isn’t so bad when you come to realize that Charlie’s nightmares don’t just stay in his head. No, they start creeping onto the waking world and leaving a trail of chaos in their wake.

37. Wonder – R.J. Palacio

Auggie was born with some extensive physical deformities. However, he’s finally ready to leave home and go to a real school. As you can expect, Auggie doesn’t have an easy time at the school, where he’s constantly ogled at and bullied. You can’t help but cry and root for him, and when he finally finds his place, you’ll be practically cheering in your chair.

38. Counting By 7s – Holly Goldberg Sloan

When your parents are all you have, what do you do when you lose them? The brilliant Willow has to figure out the answer after she loses her parents in a car crash and works through her sorrow and grief.

39. Divergent – Veronica Roth

In a world where you’re meant to join just one faction, Tris has a world of trouble brewing if anyone ever finds out she can join any faction she wants. So, will our divergent hero be able to keep her secret and live her life peacefully, or will sinister forces start hunting her down?

40. The School For Good And Evil – Soman Chainani 

Unsure readers would greatly appreciate this brilliant novel. Where fairy tales are real, and the only way out of one is to live through it, two children find themselves set on a new path, unlike anything they imagined for themselves.

41. The Menagerie – Tui Sutherland 

Looking for an easy, fun read? The Menagerie is your book. It depicts what happens to Logan when he discovers a griffin under his bed, which leads to the bigger discovery of a menagerie meant for magical creatures. However, not all is well in the menagerie, so Logan and his friend must find out what’s causing the problem in order to protect the beautiful menagerie.

42. The Space Between Lost And Found – by Sandy Stark-Mcginnis

If you’re looking for some inspiring and heart-wrenching stories, then you’ve come to the right place.

Here, our protagonist Cassie has to deal with her mom losing her memories. Since then, Cassie’s life stopped making sense. She can no longer have a flash of inspiration or even talk to her best friend. However, she decides that she still has one trick up her sleeve, and she’s going to use it even at the risk of losing it all.

43. No Fixed Address – Susin Nielsen

Felix and his mom are down on their luck, having lost their home and moved into a van. However, Felix gets the brilliant idea of joining a junior edition of his favorite trivia show in the hopes of helping his mom get back on her feet. As you can imagine, things don’t turn out as planned. Still, that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, not by far.

44. Echo – Pam Munoz Ryan 

Advanced readers of the world absolutely love this book. Not only is it very well written, but it also has a plot that was executed perfectly. Basically, it consists of three short stories, every one set in different time periods. However, these stories are all tied thanks to a magical harmonica, believe it or not.

45. The Case Of The Missing Moonstone – Jordan Stratford

History meets mystery meets fiction in this outstanding novel. Think of this novel as Sherlock Holmes, but with female tweens as the main characters. And it’s not just ant two girls; it’s the world’s first computer programmer and the author of Frankenstein. So, as you can imagine, they’ll make quite the team at solving mysteries.

46. The Girl With The Glass Bird – Esme Kerr 

Edie has been forced to move to a strict boarding school, leaving her only known relative behind. This is so that she can protect the Russian prince’s daughter, Anastasia. However, things prove difficult when someone tries to mess with Anastasia’s mind, putting Edie in quite the pickle.

47. The Blackthorn Key – Kevin Sands 

You’d do well to read a copy of The Blackthorn Key at any point in your life. It’s highly intriguing and set in a beautiful world, where Christopher and his friend try to discover who’s been murdering the apothecary owners.

48. Violet And The Pie Of Life – D. L. Green

Violet loves pie. She also loves math and relies on it quite a bit. She even tries to use it to fix her parents’ troubles. However, Violet will discover that there are always variables that you can’t expect, both in friendship and in love.

49. The Astonishing Color Of After – Emily X.R. Pan

Leigh Chen Sanders isn’t in the best headspace right now. Her mother just committed suicide, but Leigh is certain that her mother changed into a bird after she died. So, she travels to Taiwan to meet her grandparents and look for her mother. However, she does so much more than that, stuff that you wouldn’t believe possible, all the grieving for her mother and trying to heal.

50. Crown of Three – J. D. Rinehart 

Three siblings were separated at birth but came together to fulfill a prophecy and bring peace to a magical land. However, they must first learn to work together and use their powers in order to fight the evil forces ravaging the land, and as you can imagine, that’s not exactly a walk in the park.

51. Seven Dead Pirates – Linda Bailey 

Lewis’s life sure takes a turn for the exciting when he meets seven pirate ghosts in his room. They convince him to help them repossess their ship from a museum in the hopes of making it into a pirate utopia of sorts. However, the ghosts are far from easy to deal with, and Lewis is sure to have his hands full dealing with the rowdy ghosts.

52. The Absolute Value of Mike – Kathryn Erskine 

Mike is trying to connect with his father. However, his father only speaks calculus, and Mike isn’t exactly the best at math. So, when his father sends him to Pennsylvania for an engineering project, Mike almost reels back when he discovers there’s another project going on, one that has nothing to do with math.

53. The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit is the prequel to the beloved Lord Of The Rings series. In it, Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf go on an epic adventure to the Lonely Mountain and have their share of close calls and splendid success.

54. Where The Red Fern Grows – Wilson Rawls 

Billy has been saving for a long time. However, he’s now saved enough for two lovely pups. So, he takes off with them and goes exploring. However, danger awaits Billy and his pups, so he must do everything he can to protect himself and his canine friends.

55. Everywhere Blue – Joanne Rossmassler Fritz

Maddie’s older brother has vanished into thin air, and with this, Maddie’s world crumbles to the ground. So, she plans on finding her brother so that maybe, just maybe, her world will have a resemblance to normality once again.

56. The Fog Diver – Joel Ross

A fog covers the earth, and only humans who live on the highest mountaintops can survive. However, our heroes will need to brave the fog in order to save the closest thing they have o a mother, and well, it won’t exactly be an easy journey.

57. Hatchet – Gary Paulsen

Brian Robeson was traveling to visit his father when his plane crashed, leaving him stranded in the Canadian wilderness. So, can he survive with only a torn windbreaker, hatchet, and some clothes? You’ll be on the edge of your seat with this one.

Jump In : Add more engaging reading activities and exercises by providing your 7th-graders with comprehension activities that will challenge their deduction! Read my blog on selected practice activities for G7 students — 11 Fun 7th Grade Reading Comprehension Activities (& Games) .

So, that’s it for our picks of the best books for the 7th grade they’d surely love.

Did you find a book with a genre you prefer? If so, be sure to enjoy it, and don’t be afraid to take a chance on a book you wouldn’t normally go for.

Last Updated on July 24, 2022 by Emily

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Emily is an active mother of two and a dedicated elementary school teacher. She believes the latest technology has made a huge impact on the quality of early learning and has worked hard to upgrade her classroom and her own children’s learning experience through technology.

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Best book series for 7th graders — ever

by: Grace Montgomery

Print book list

The American Fairy Trilogy

by: Sarah Zettel - (Bluefire, 2013) 320 pages.

The hook: When Callie LeRoux’s mother disappears in a sandstorm during the Depression, she sets off to California on a quest to find her parents and her destiny. Half-fairy and half-mortal with African-American heritage, Callie must piece together the truth about her past to rescue her family. She embarks on a cross-country adventure, uncovering some dark secrets along the way. This richly imaginative and well-researched series cleverly combines fascinating historical details about the Dust Bowl era with folklore and fantasy. It’s a refreshing change from the usual vampire or dystopian teen fare. Parents should note a few uses of historically accurate racial slurs, like the N-word.

Perfect for: Tweens and teens who like historical stories with a twist.

Find our favorites at your local library: Dust Girl , Golden Girl , Bad Luck Girl .

CHERUB series

by: Robert Muchamore - (Simon Pulse, 2013)

The hook: Formed during WWII, CHERUB is an elite, secret sector of the British Security Service that employs minors aged 9 to 17 — mostly orphans — as intelligence officers. The 12 books in the first series are stay-up-late page-turners. Savvy, capable heroes and heroines infiltrate gangs, take down terrorists, and investigate international arms dealers, all while maintaining covers as “normal” teenagers.

Perfect for: Your high-flying daredevil, problem-solving genius of a middle-schooler.

Find our favorites at your local library: Divine Madness , The General , Brigands M.C.

Dairy Queen series

by: Catherine Gilbert Murdock - (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2007)

The hook: The books follow the high school passions and perils of D.J., a teen who has all the drama of a 90210 socialite — just swap out star-spotting in glitzy LA for football games and farm life in rural Wisconsin. You see, Darlene Joyce “D.J.” has been picking up the slack around her family’s dairy farm ever since her dad got hurt and her football-star brothers left to play college ball, which includes a daily five a.m. wake-up call to milk their 32 cows. A little on the husky side, D.J. is also a major football fan. When she decides to become a player, there’s drama, dissent, and a little dalliance with the rival team’s quarterback.

Perfect for: hardworking, athletic girls who love their families, their sports, and their lives — even when they don’t all come wrapped in a pretty package.

Find our favorites at your local library: Dairy Queen , The Off Season , Front and Center .

The Ender quintet

by: Orson Scott Card - (Tor Books, 1985) 384 pages.

The hook: In a desperate attempt to win a century-long war with an alien race, Earth breeds genetically modified geniuses to train as child soldiers. Ten-year-old Ender Wiggins excels at the simulated tactical war games used in military training. But when he resists his role in saving the human race, the adults must decide how far to push him. This riveting series raises compelling questions about empathy and morality and is a good gateway to reading for pleasure, particularly for older tween boys who would rather be playing video games. Parents should note that the books contain violence, bullying, and some mild profanity.

Want to see the movie? The 2013 film starring Harrison Ford adapts the futuristic sci-fi plot of the first book to the big screen.

Perfect for: Video game lovers.

Find our favorites at your local library: Ender’s Game , Speaker for the Dead .

Eragon: The Inheritance Cycle, Book 1

by: Christopher Paolini - (Knopf, 2003) 528 pages.

The hook: On a hunting trip on the foreboding mountain range known as the Spine, 15-year-old Eragon finds a mysterious blue stone that turns out to be a dragon egg. The dragon hatches and brands his palm with the silver mark that signifies that the two are a bonded pair, the last dragon and dragon rider in all of Alagaesia. When terrifying visitors destroy Eragon’s farm, Eragon and Saphira set out with the town storyteller, Brom, to pursue their destiny — to defeat the evil king, Galbatorix. This is the first book in the four-book Inheritance Cycle series, which is reminiscent of Tolkien and full of ancient magic, elves, dwarves, and dragon lore. A map and glossary help kids keep track of the exotic place names and words in fantasy languages. And the fact that the author was 15 when he began writing the series may inspire young readers to get writing themselves.

Want to see the movie? The 2007 adaptation, Eragon , may help readers visualize creatures and events in the book.

Perfect for : Readers (and budding writers) of epic fantasy fiction.

Find our favorites at your local library: Eragon , Eldest , Brisingr .

The Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy

by: Rae Carson - (Greenwillow Books, 2012) 448 pages.

The hook: Despite being one of the chosen few bearing a Godstone, a symbol that she’s destined to be a hero, 16-year-old Elisa has always fallen in her sister’s shadow. But when she’s sent to be the secret wife of an embattled king, she knows it’s time to embrace her destiny. Caught between different loyalties and struggling to fulfill the prophecy that claims she can save the world, Elisa must first find a way to survive. This intense trilogy spans a lot of genres, combining fantasy, romance, and spirituality with a plucky plus-size heroine who’s not your usual princess. Teen girls swoon over the romantic plot points, though parents should note there’s some sexual content (talk about birth control, some steamy kisses, and a brief sex scene) and some violence.

Perfect for: Teens who like books with a little romance and a lot of action.

Find our favorites at your local library: The Girl of Fire and Thorns , The Crown of Embers , The Bitter Kingdom .

The Hunger Games series

by: Suzanne Collins - (Scholastic Press, 2008) 384 pages.

The hook: Beginning with The Hunger Games , this three-book series follows Katniss Everdeen, a reluctant hero in a post-apocalyptic future. Each year, as penance for past rebellion against the Capital, citizens of the 12 districts of Panem must choose two children to fight to the death in the televised Hunger Games. When Katniss’s little sister, Prim, is chosen, Katniss volunteers to take her place. Her bravery sets off a chain of events that will determine the future of Panem. A taut storyline and engaging characters make this series hard to put down for tween and teen readers, though parents should know the books contain mature themes and violence.

Want to see the movie? Check out the four film adaptations, starting with The Hunger Games , which closely follow the plot of the trilogy.

Perfect for: Tweens and teens who admire strong female characters.

Find our favorites at your local library: The Hunger Games , Catching Fire , Mockingjay .

Little Women

by: Louisa May Alcott - (Roberts Brothers, 1868) 816 pages.

The hook: It’s the Civil War and the four March sisters are struggling to grow up to be well-bred young ladies after their family has fallen on hard times. Pretty Meg, the oldest, finds it the hardest to be poor. Tomboy Jo has big dreams of becoming a writer. Kind Beth just wants a quiet life at home with her sisters. And impish Amy struggles with being impulsive and a bit vain. Holding them all together is Marmie, their wise and independent mother, who lovingly guides them as they change from girls to women while their father is away at war. This family story is a great read-aloud book for younger kids and a good challenge for tweens who want to tackle a longer read.

Want to see the movie? There are several versions to choose from, including the classic 1949 adaptation starring Elizabeth Taylor.

Perfect for : Tweens and teens who like stories about family dynamics.

Find our favorites at your local library: Little Women , Little Men , Jo’s Boys .

Legend trilogy

by: Marie Lu - (Speak, 2013) 352 pages.

The hook: In a future, dystopian Los Angeles, 15-year-old June is being trained to be a leader in the Republic’s ruling party. Day, an outlaw, was born in the slums and will do whatever he can to make a better life for his family. When June’s brother is murdered and Day is blamed for the crime, these two teens on opposite sides of the law are thrown together, uncovering dangerous truths about the Republic. Although the themes aren’t new — teens finding love during a violent, dystopian future — the compelling writing and emotional nuances keep this trilogy feeling fresh. Parents should know that these books contain violence and mature themes.

Perfect for: Tweens who want more after The Hunger Games and Divergent.

Find our favorites at your local library: Legend , Prodigy , Champion .

The Lunar Chronicles

by: Marissa Meyer - (Square Fish, 2013) 448 pages.

The hook: What if Cinderella was part cyborg and Rapunzel’s tower was actually a satellite stuck out in space? Classic fairy tales are reimagined with futuristic twists in the dark and imaginative Lunar Chronicles, a four-book series that combines Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Snow White. Each heroine isn’t just a damsel in distress waiting for her prince to save her — they’re each strong, intelligent (Rapunzel is a hacker), and ready to fight to save humanity from a deadly virus and the impending war between Earth and the moon. Teen girls love the strong female role models in this compelling series, but parents should note the mature themes and violence.

Perfect for: Teens who like fairytales with a twist.

Find our favorites at your local library: Cinder , Scarlet , Cress .

Matched trilogy

by: Allyson Braithwaite Condie - (Speak, 2011) 416 pages.

The hook: Beginning with Matched, this three-book series follows 17-year-old Cassia as she begins her adult life in Society, a sanitized futuristic world that’s taken free will away from its citizens. With her career already chosen for her, Cassia is thrilled to learn her future husband will be her best friend, Xander. But when her neighbor Ky, who’s been shunned as an “aberration,” shows up on her match screen instead by accident, the Society’s mistake opens up Cassia’s mind to the possibility that her utopian world isn’t what she thought it was. Although the trilogy deals with mature themes, it’s much less violent than most of the teen dystopian cannon and keeps the sexual content to a few intense kisses.

Perfect for: Tweens and teens who like dystopian fiction.

Find our favorites at your local library: Matched , Crossed , Reached .

by: Brian Jacques - (Puffin/Philomel Books, 2002) 352 pages.

The hook: For generations, the Redwall Abbey has been home to peaceful woodland animals. But throughout the Abbey’s long and storied history, there have been those who seek to destroy their ways of kindness. Fortunately, a hero can always be found to maintain the peace. This epic 22-book series, set in an imagined medieval past with talking animals, isn’t written in chronological order, so each title can stand on its own. The rich and exciting prose makes this a great read-aloud choice for younger readers who may struggle with the dense writing on their own and stronger readers who like classic adventure tales, though parents should note there is some violence.

Perfect for: Readers who like sprawling adventures.

Find our favorites at your local library: Redwall , Mossflower , Martin the Warrior .

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

by: Ann Brashares - (Delacorte Press/Random House Children's Books, 2001) 336 pages.

The hook: Soon-to-be high school sophomores Bridget, Carmen, Lena, and Tibby have been best friends forever. Just as they’re about to spend their first summer apart, the four girls come upon a pair of jeans that somehow fits all four of them perfectly and makes each girl look and feel amazing. The friends vow to share the pants and send them back and forth to each other throughout the summer. The first in a series of five books, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants sweetly captures the high school experience in way that will be especially compelling to tween readers.

Want to see the movie? Check out the 2005 adaptation starring Blake Lively, America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, and Amber Tamblyn.

Perfect for: Tweens who like stories about high school.

Find our favorites at your local library: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants , The Second Summer of the Sisterhood , Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood .

Daughter of Smoke & Bone series

by: Laini Taylor - (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012) 448 pages.

The hook: Raised by four half-human, half-animal creatures called chimaera, blue-haired Karou is not your typical 17-year-old. While traveling between worlds on a mission to find teeth (for what purpose she isn’t sure), Karou is attacked by a seraphim named Akiva. All of a sudden, her portal back to her family is closed. Karou finds herself drawn into a war between angel and chimaera and against a strong attraction to Akiva that she can’t explain. Although this fantasy series falls in the angel romance camp, the intriguing mystery plot and strong writing help it avoid the clichés of the genre and make it a popular pick for adults and mature teens.

Perfect for: Teens who like romantic fantasies.

Find our favorites at your local library: Daughter of Smoke and Bone , Days of Blood and Starlight , Dreams of Gods and Monsters .

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60 Best 6th Grade Books in a Series

F ind the best, most compelling middle grade 6th grade books in a series for 11-year-olds to keep them reading more books and for longer time periods. Because there’s nothing like a good book…and it’s even better when your favorite book is in a series!

Here in Colorado, many elementary schools include 6th grade while others have the 6th graders in the middle school. I loved having a sixth grader class in my elementary school. Which do you prefer? 6th grade is usually age 11 and 12.

6th grade reading is becoming more sophisticated. Now children are reading books about even more complex and sophisticated topics and themes such as coming of age, mental health, eating disorders, body image, and other real life situations. Kids are reading books that relate to their lives as well as transport them into the lives of others, whether in realistic fiction or science fiction or historical fiction.

This list of books includes the fiction genres of fantasy, science fiction, humor, historical fiction, mystery, adventure, and realistic fiction with books about many different topics and themes. I hope these recommended books hit the spot and your young readers find their next favorite book!

See the 5th grade books in a series list here .

Go to the 7th grade books in a series list here .

Download a free printable pdf of this book list!

6th Grade Books in a Series for 11-Year-Olds

Fantasy & sci-fi.

Amari and the Night Brothers  by B.B. Alston

Fantastic fantasy world-building, excellent writing, a strong female heroine of color, and a surprise plot twist ending are just a few of the reasons you’ll love this middle grade book . Amari gets a message from her missing brother that says she’s a magician and should attend a special school. At the magical school, she discovers she has outlawed dark magic. Even though she’s not welcome, Amari is determined to stay in the school and find her brother.

Charlie Hernandez and the League of Shadows

FANTASY / ADVENTURE

Charlie Hernández’s house burns down, his parents go missing, and he is sent to a foster home. But it’s when he grows HORNS, the WINGS, and meets the MYTHS in real life he’s really freaked out. Fortunately, a persistent classmate named Violet Rey helps Charlie follow the clues to find the truth about his parents and if he’s the prophesied Morphling meant to save the world.  A perfect 6th grade book series with a great balance of action, dialogue, & writing.

Hither and Nigh  by Ellen Potter

Guaranteed to enthrall with masterful storytelling and wildly inventive world-building,  Nell is forced to join the Last Chance Club or be expelled from school. The club focuses on magic and begins Nell’s search to find her missing brother. She leaves her world of Nither to the magical world of Nigh where she hopes to track the poachers who kidnapped her brother. 

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief  by A.F. Steadman

In Skandar’s world with bloodthirsty  unicorns  and unicorn riders, he’s denied as a unicorn rider until a mysterious woman sneaks him in.  He learns he and his unicorn have the forbidden 5th spirit element like the evil Weaver whose been wreaking destruction and stealing unicorns.  His new friends help him hide the magic and control his unicorn who hates pretending to be a water elemental. But he and his unicorn’s elemental magic may be the only ones who can stop the Weaver.

The Serpent’s Secret

INDIAN MYTHOLOGY

Kiranmala discovers on her 12th birthday that she’s a princess from another realm and her parents are trapped in a black hole-type place. But there’s a lot more she’ll learn — like who her real parents are (yikes!) and that demons can be your friends. You’ll love every second of this entertaining Indian mythology adventure.

Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts by Erika Lewis

Fast-paced with Celtic mythology, read about a foster child attending a magical school and searching for answers about her mysterious heritage. Kelcie is a foster kid raised in the human world. At the Academy, she discovers that she’s a mistrusted elemental called a Saiga, a mistrusted elemental, and finds friends who help her learn about her unique powers. They’ll also fight the monsters who continue to attack Kelcie. 

An easier read for 6th graders that makes the zombie apocalypse fun. At least, that’s how Jack approaches life and zombie fighting. He and his best friend, Quint, live in an upgraded, well-defended treehouse where they plan to rescue his June and fight zombies. Illustrations throughout make this even more appealing to read and imagine! BOXED SET HERE.

This first book in the 6th grade book series is macabre but excellent and imaginative story. It weaves the story of Hansel and Gretel with eight more Grimm fairy tales. After Hansel and Gretel abandon their murderous parents, they go to the wild forest where Hansel transforms into a ravenous, hunter-beast, and Gretel continues on her own. This book will make you want to reread your Complete Brother’s Grimm stories.

The Ruins of Gorlan: Ranger’s Apprentice by John A. Flanagan

Will is apprenticed to become a Ranger. Ss he develops a relationship with his master and learns what being a Ranger is all about (spying for the kingdom), he embraces his new life. When an old enemy of the kingdom sends out dangerous beasts to attack Will’s master, Will is instrumental in getting help and killing the creatures. A ction, fantasy, adventure, friendship, excellent writing — this book has it all! Boxed Set HERE.

Edge of Extinction The Ark Plan by Laura Martin

Cloned dinosaurs have taken over the earth, so Sky and her fellow humans live below ground. Sky discovers that her missing (maybe traitor?) father left her a note to find him. She decides to leave the underground city to find her dad. Barely outside a day, she and her friend Shawn are rescued from hungry dinosaurs by a boy who lives in a treetop enclave. When Noah’s soldiers attack, Sky realizes that everything she believed about Noah was wrong. This is one of my favorite book series for 6th graders!

Lockwood & Co The Screaming Staircase   by Jonathan Stroud

GHOST ADVENTURE

Dangerous ghosts and spirits are appearing everywhere in London but only certain kids can see them. Teens Lucy, Anthony, and George badly need money for their ghost-hunting agency, Lockwood & Co., so they take a perilous job that, if the ghosts have their way, may just be their last. An enthralling, spooky adventure book series for 6th graders — and a new show. Boxed set here .

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon MessengerFANTASY

I stayed up all night to finish this book –it was fantastic! Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit into her life. And Sophie has a secret; she’s a Telepath and not human . She must leave the human world for the Elvin world where she’ll face danger from both worlds. Her only hope is to regain the memories about her past. Boxed set here .

The Fog Diver  by Joel Ross

SCI-FI / DYSTOPIAN

The world is covered by a deadly “fog” that kills humans so the humans live only on the highest mountain peaks. Our heroes, a band of scavenging orphans, are trying to find something in the world below that they can sell in order to travel to another city where they can treat the cloud sickness of their beloved mother figure. Excellent suspense in a fascinating world with interesting characters and plot.

Masterminds  by Gordon Korman

This is one of our favorite 6th grade books with suspense and surprise! Eli and his friends discover that their utopian town is all a big science experiment. Kids cloned from criminal masterminds are being studied by a group of scientists posing as parents in a “perfect” closed community. Once the kids discover the truth, they escape but what will they do next? Find the masterminds?

Hera: The Goddess and her Glory  by George O’Conner

MYTHOLOGY / GRAPHIC NOVEL

Both my kids love O’Conner’s graphic novels and can’t wait for his next book,  Hades .  If you’re big Greek mythology fans, check out his other books,  Athena  and  Zeus: King of the Gods .

SCI-FI (series)

Gorgeous artwork sets the tone for an otherworldly story. The five worlds are falling into chaos. When one world attacks another, Oona Lee, a girl who is a sand dancer, rescues two boys and the three determine to light the unlit Beacons and save the worlds. But, they face a dark force that comes with a devastating betrayal.

SCIENCE FICTION (series)

Lacey finds an unusual, half-destroyed cat baku and rebuilds it using a 3D printer and found parts. When her baku Jinx starts to work, he’s different because he can speak into her mind and think for himself! So when she starts competing with other kids at her prestigious school in the battle of the bakus, Jinx doesn’t follow the rules which lead to two bad things — his capture and the discovery of a sinister truth about the MONCHA company. Fantastic, fast-paced, and thought-provoking. 

When the government cracks down and discovers her mom’s secret lab, Nere learns that her mom has experimented on her . . . and many other kids . . . so that they can survive underwater. Suddenly Nere has gills and is forced to swim for her life to meet up with the other kids who are part of the Neptune Project, traveling to where her not-really-dead-after-all father has built an underwater headquarters. The journey is dangerous and there’s tension within the group. Will they survive the trip and if they do, to what end?

Sanity & Tallulah

SCI-FI / GRAPHIC NOVEL

Sanity and Tallulah are two good friends who live on a space station. Sanity is a brilliant inventor — but her newest (illegal) creation, a three-headed kitten named Princess Destroyer of Worlds has escaped and is living up to her name — destroyer. The friends look for their missing kitten but instead discover a big problem that will destroy the space station. While the station is evacuated, the friends work hard to stop the duct weasels and the engine from overheating. Super-smart problem-solving main characters and non-stop action.

FANTASY (series)

One cold winter night, the night before Bramblemas, a traveling bard shares stories about the heroic Podkin One-Ear. Alternating between the bard’s experience and the story of Podkin, we learn that young Podkin was a lazy, spoiled prince. When the cruel Gorm, the metal dark magic rabbits, arrive at Podkin’s family’s burrow to kill everyone inside, Podkin escapes with his much braver sister and little brother. Podkin tries his best to be brave, but it’s a challenging.

Hazel is the third granddaughter, a princess who resembles no one else in the family except the most dangerous magician ruler the kingdom ever knew. She, like her ancestor, is gifted at magic and her grandmother wants to use Hazel’s magic to protect the kingdom. But it’s an unjust kingdom, and Hob, a young spy and commoner boy in her service, wants things to change. Hazel will face a choice to follow in the dark magic footsteps of her ancestor. Hob will face doing what he’s ordered or following his heart. Plots within plots, twists   and turns, make this an enthralling new fantasy adventure.

Voyage of the Frostheart

FANTASY Voyage of the Frostheart is a fantastic, illustrated adventure chapter book story about an orphan boy with forbidden musical powers. After Ash’s Pathfinder parents disappear, Ash moves in with a strict guardian Yeti named Tobu. Unfortunately, they’re banished from their home when Ash uses his forbidden Song Weaver magic. They leave the village with a Pathfinder crew, a ship that sails over the snow. On their journey, Ash realizes that he can find his parents using the words in his childhood lullaby. But he’ll be tried, tested, and tricked. Who will he trust?

Dealing with Dragons

You’ll love this strong female princess named Cimorene who doesn’t want to be a damsel in distress princess and leaves her home to apprentice herself to a dragon. For fun. No rescuing involved, thank you very much. Once there, she must help save her dragon from a nasty group of wizards. We LOVE and highly recommend these girl-power 6th grade books. Box set here .

Rump by Liesl Shurtliff

FRACTURED FAIRY TALE

Rump learns that he’s trapped in his mom’s magical “rumple” which requires him to make straw into gold for any trade another person offers. The miller takes advantage of this , leaving Rump without options or any control. With the help of his troll friends, his friend Red, and his aunts, Rump finds a way to stop the magical curse and give the queen back her child.

Five Kingdoms: Sky Raiders   by Brandon Mull

Cole, a regular kid, is trick-or-treating with his friends when kidnappers take his friends to another world, a world of five kingdoms, slavery, and magic. Cole follows and is discovered and sold to slavers. There he’ll battle mysterious beings living on cloud castles, discover an exiled princess, escape from slavery, and have unimaginable adventures trying to find his missing friends. Box set here .

If you like exciting 6th grade books, you’ll love this series. Zed and Brock are chosen for the Adventurers Guild and must leave the safety of their walled city to fight the monsters on the outside. Before they can finish training, Zed, Brock, and others are sent on outside the city on a fact-finding mission that uncovers treachery, fiendish beasts, and Zed’s untapped magic. Imaginative world-building, intriguing plot twists, and complex characters!

Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret

This is National Geographic’s first fictional book series with full-color illustrations that hits the spot with an exciting mix of science, technology, adventure, and mystery. Newly accepted into the prestigious Explorer Academy for science and exploration, Cruz realizes that someone is trying to kill him; someone who doesn’t want him finding out about his mother’s mysterious research and untimely death. You’ll love the cool tech, amazing friendships, plot twists, and intriguing premise.

The Last Gate of the Emperor

When Yared gives his real name during an augmented reality game, soldiers come after him. He partners with another game player, the Ibis, to escape the troops and the giant monster and find the truth. The two clever, quick-witted kids face incredible danger, insurmountable odds, and a galaxy-spanning war, but Yared has been trained for this and he is ready to fight. Set in a futuristic Ethiopian empire, this exciting adventure grabs your interest and keeps it through wild twists and turns that feature heroic main characters!

Set in a dystopian society, this Newbery medal winner grabs your attention and keeps it until the end. What is going on in this strictly controlled community? When Jonas is assigned his job as “Receiver of Memory,” he learns just how much the government has suppressed from the people’s knowledge, not to mention that they’re giving pills meant to control people’s behavior and that they murder so-called defective babies and older people. When his foster baby brother is up to be killed, Jonas must decide how he will save them both. BOX SET

Rafe’s goal in middle school is to break every single rule. You can imagine how his plan will go, right? Filled with cartoon-like illustrations, this story will crack you up. A totally hilarious premise and fantastic writing. Boxed Set HERE .

Hilarious. While on a class trip to Washington D.C., Wyatt and his best friend, Matt, are positive they’ve discovered a plot to blow up the White House. Wyatt’s crush, Suzanna, helps the friends make a plan, and as you can imagine, disaster and humor strike as the kids try to stop the bombing.

A Whole Nother Story  by Cuthbert Soup

Mr. Cheeseman, his three relatively odor-free children, a psychic hairless dog, and a sock puppet named Steve are on the run. Why? Because Mr. Cheeseman invented a time machine, of course. Now they’re being chased by international super spies, top-secret government agents, and a genius monkey. Dr. Cuthbert Soup, the head of the Center of Unsolicited Advice, narrates this wild wacky adventure that 6th graders with a love for quirky humor will enjoy.

The artistic Applewhite family offers to homeschool Jake after he’s expelled from yet another school. Jake moves in with this unusual family to attend their Creative Academy but clashes with E.D., one of the not-so-artistic children. Quirky and funny.

REALISTIC (series)

A boy whose nickname is Ghost accidentally gets on a track team and it’s life-changing. His coach becomes a mentor and father figure who pushes Ghost to take responsibility for his mistakes (stealing sneakers) and to start dealing with the ghosts of his past. Well-written and hopeful about growing up and growing into yourself.

Like The Penderwicks, your 6th graders will fall in love with this quirky, wonderful family from the first page. The Vanderbeekers’ landlord wants them out by the end of December but the Vanderbeeker kids are determined to change his mind, even though he hates noise, kids, and their family. But it’s almost Christmas and their efforts are only making things worse. What will they do? Charming and heart-warming.

New Kid   by Jerry Craft

REALISTIC / GRAPHIC NOVEL

Jordan’s parents make him go to a private school across town where he’s one of the only kids of color. Besides having the tricky business of navigating friendships, he now must deal with the two separate worlds of his neighborhood and his school, along with racism and balancing academics with artwork . This story feels truthful, relatable, and important.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

On her 12th birthday, Zoe discovers a letter from her incarcerated biological father named Marcus. She secretly writes back and asks if he’s guilty. Marcus says he’s innocent and he can prove it, which sets Zoe on a quest for truth for herself, even if her mom and dad forbid it. She enlists the help of her Grandma and her best friend, Trevor. You won’t be able to put down this winsome story with a heroine 6th grade readers will love in a story that illuminates social justice with themes of family, friendship, and love.

Aven Green makes up creative stories for why she doesn’t have any arms. New to Arizona where her parents are the new managers a rundown theme park, she befriends a boy at school who, like her, feels different and isolated from the other kids. His name is Connor, and he has  Tourette Syndrome. Together, he, another new friend named Zion, and Aven investigate a mysterious storage shed at the theme park, leading them to a mystery involving Aven’s past.

All Four Stars

We loved this engaging book series about food enthusiast Gladys suffering in a house of microwaving parents without a taste bud between them . Gladys not only appreciates good food, but she also loves to cook and wants to be a food critic. She already has lots of practice writing her daily notes about her parents’ horrid creations. When a mix-up in a writing contest has the editors of a paper thinking she’s an adult, she writes a published review without letting anyone know she’s 10 years old.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Because this is written in verse, this is a fast read but packs a big punch . Basketball player and twin Josh narrates his life in quarters, just like the game he plays. He writes about missing his twin when his twin, Jordan, gets a girlfriend; about getting in trouble when he hits Jordan in the face with a basketball; and about watching his father as his heart fails. This is a coming-of-age, gripping story about a boy just trying to figure out life.

Adventure / Mystery

City Spies  by James Ponti

When Sara, a foster kid and hacker, gets in trouble again, her new so-called lawyer recruits her to be an MI6 spy.  Sara joins a team of other kids, trains quickly, and is immediately sent undercover to break open a big case in Paris. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I predict you’ll  love every second of this action-packed story! It’s filled with great characters and an interesting twisty plot. You won’t be able to put this series down.

ADVENTURE / MYSTERY

Even though he’s only 13-years-old, Theo knows all about being a lawyer. In fact, to prepare for his career, he gives legal advice to anyone who needs it. But when he learns about a reluctant murder witness, the only witness, who is an illegal immigrant and scared to come forward, Theo must figure out what the right thing to do is. Box set here .

The Van Gogh Deception by Deron Hicks

One of the best edge-of-your-seat mystery and adventure book series for 6th graders. A boy with no memory is found at the National Gallery staring at a Degas sculpture. Strangely, this boy does know a great deal about art and artists. Soon we learn he’s being hunted by a team of professional bad guys. The boy, Art, and his foster sister escape from several kidnapping attempts and begin to unravel who he is and what’s going on.

Winterhouse

Elizabeth, an orphan, is unexpectedly sent to a large, stately hotel with a kind, grandfatherly proprietor for Christmas vacation. There, she discovers a magical book, a sinister couple, a family mystery, and a new friend who loves puzzles as much as she does. The writing is mesmerizing, the mystery fascinating, and the characters, enchanting. This is a delightful, atmospheric mystery series.

Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation

The CIA asks a super genius 12-year-old girl named Charlie to help find the missing and dangerous “Pandora” theory of Einstein’s. You will fall in love with Charlie—she’s a creative thinker and a survivor who, despite all her knowledge, still can act like a child yet also outwit bad guys in amazing ways. Terrorists, Moussed, cross-world travel, and mathematical clues combine with excellent writing to make the perfect action-adventure spy story starring a female protagonist you’ll love!

Ali Cross by James Patterson

If you want an enthralling adventure & mystery that you can’t put down, read this one next. It’s Christmas Eve and Ali’s friend Gabe is missing, his FBI agent dad is falsely accused of murdering an old man, and someone broke into their house while they were at church and stole his dad’s service weapon. Ali knows he has to try to fix things, starting by finding his friend Gabe. Don’t miss these 6th grade books, including the next one, Like Father, Like Son .

The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves   by  Tom Phillips

Orphaned and sent to the Jersey Home for Boys, John decides to run away and live in the New York Museum of Natural History. But when the Egyptian ruby gets stolen from the museum, John is accused of the theft. Lucky for John, Inspector Toadius McGee, believes in John’s innocence and enlists John’s help in finding the true culprit–and it’s a wild ride of twists and turns.

The Case of the Left-Handed Lady: An Enola Holmes Mystery  (series) by Nancy Springer

This Sherlock book series for 6th graders follows the detective adventures of Sherlock’s sister, Enola who I don’t think is the real name of his sister. But I love how Enola is an independent, smart detective in her own right. Delightful!

The author imagines a friendship between Ada Byron, the genius daughter of Lord Byron and the world’s first computer programmer, and Mary Shelley, the world’s first science-fiction author who almost could have been friends in real life but for about a decade of years. Mary joins Ada to study with Ada’s tutor and the duo form a detective agency. In this first adventure, Mary and Ada learn about another historical figure who invented hypnotism and solve the case of a stolen heirloom.

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee StewartMYSTERY

9-year-old Nicholas Benedict, a genius orphan with narcolepsy, lives in a poorly run orphanage where he’s maltreated and bullied. In this prequel to the series, Nicholas discovers there’s a treasure somewhere in the orphanage. He and his friend search for clues as well as find ways to improve life for all the orphans there. Boxed set here .

On his way to visit his dad, 13-year-old Brian’s plane crashes in the Canadian wild. All alone with only a hatchet, he’s forced to grow up quickly in order to survive each harrowing day. Readers will quickly imagine themselves in Brian’s perilous situation. An award-winning survival book with a compelling narrative.

ADVENTURE / TRUE STORY  HISTORICAL (series)

Lost is a riveting retelling of a military plane crash then  weeks of thirst and starvation in the perilous south seas on precarious lifeboats. The fast-paced writing moves the story along with purpose and the photographic evidence is fascinating. 6th grade readers will be hard-pressed to put this intense true story down.

To Catch a Cheat  by Varian Johnson

Someone is trying to frame Jackson for a prank he didn’t even commit — and they’re doing a great job of it! It will take months to prove the video is falsified, and by then Jackson will have missed the robot contest due to his punishment. Jackson and his friends are determined to prove his innocence but it won’t be easy. A fun plot with twists and turns and the 2nd book after The Great Greene Heist.

Stranded by Jeff Probst and Chris Tebbetts

A storm sinks the stepsiblings ship, and they barely make it to a deserted island. They’ll have to work together to survive. And hope their parents can find them. The 6th grade books are great fast-paced reading for anyone who loves action and adventure.

When 7th grade Frankie’s former best friend, Colette, vanishes, Frankie begins to look for clues on her own. Loud noises, changes, touch, and so many things affect her intensely. Frankie realizes that Colette was trying to finish a list of dares and Frankie and her twin sister piece together Colette’s last known locations. As they do, it helps Frankie accept herself and forgive Colette and her sister. It’s a brilliant, touching first-person story that gives us insights into a neurodivergent character’s brain in a suspenseful mystery story.

Historical Fiction

Chains ,  Forge , Ashes (Seeds of America) by Laurie Halse Anderson

HISTORICAL FICTION

Live the Revolutionary War time period through the eyes of an African-American girl named Isabel and her friend, Cuzon. Enslaved, escaped, or enlisted, these two are determined survivors. The writing is amazing and the stories, captivating. I love and highly recommend these books; they’ll transport you back into history. Boxed Set Here .

FANTASY / HISTORICAL (series)

Set in medieval Scotland, this is an action-packed adventure of a strong female protagonist with close family bonds, medieval and mythical elements, and an exciting plot. When Drest’s war-band family is kidnapped by knights she sets off in pursuit, taking a wounded soldier hostage with her. Throughout their travels, the two develop a complicated friendship and Drest learns uncomfortable truths about her family. I love when a girl rescues boys from death! What an excellent story — I highly recommend it.

A Newbery Honor winner!!! Ada and her brother escape their mother’s abuse when the London children are evacuated during WWII and go to live with a grieving woman in a small country town. It’s difficult for both the woman and children to trust each other, but slowly the trust grows. As it does, all three regain something lost — hope and love. I can’t recommend these 6th grade books enough; they will touch your heart at such a deep level.

Action-packed from the first page , this is one historical fiction novel you don’t want to miss. Oliver wakes to find his house flooded and his father missing. After being thrown in the poorhouse for orphans, he manages to escape with stolen money only to be accosted by a highwayman. It’s one misfortune after another, but Oliver is determined to find his father and sister in London. Somehow.

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